Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic: Professional Views and Personal Insights (The Praeger Series on Contemporary Health and Living) - Hardcover

Sarah A. Benton

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0313352801 ISBN 13: 9780313352805

Publisher: Praeger, 2009

Synopsis

Who is the typical alcoholic among the 12.5 million living in the United States now? Many, if not most of us when asked that question, would envision a skid row bum or someone at least out of work or with little education locked into a low-skill, low-paying job. But that is not accurate, according to the results of a national study released in June, 2007 by the National Institutes of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The NIAAA determined that alcoholics in the United States really fall into five subtypes, including nearly 20 percent who are highly functional alcoholics, well-educated with good incomes. They include corporate presidents, powerful politicians, police, lawyers, doctors, scientists, and other highly-skilled, highly-educated people who are middle- to high-income and by most accounts successful. In this unprecedented book, mental health counselor Sarah Benton takes us into the worlds and minds of so-called high-functioning alcoholics, to understand how people so intelligent and achievement-oriented get drawn into states in which they secretly cannot control their liquor consumption but still manage to excel in their careers. The book includes a look at celebrity alcoholics like singer Eric Clapton and actor/comedian Robin Williams, as well as alcoholics in high positions including Chris Albrecht, former Chairman and CEO of HBO. Other high-profile people included in this book are Miss USA 2007 Tara Conner and football legend Joe Namath. With her own story of alcoholism and her recovery woven into the text, Benton takes us into the lives and challenges of these well-educated and successful people, seeking to understand how, when, and why they became addicted, as well as the reasons their alcoholism is, for most, so hard to admit, cope with, and recover from.

About this title

Review:

"[E]xplores in depth a hidden class of alcoholics that are professionally successful; topics include High-Functioning Alcoholics (HFAs) in high school, college, and as emerging adults." - ForeWard Reviews

Synopsis:

This title offers insights into the millions of 'successful' people who excel in many ways, but remain under the control of alcohol. When picturing a typical alcoholic, most people would visualise a down-on-his-luck, low-income individual. However, of the alcoholics in western countries, nearly 20 per cent are 'highly functional alcoholics, well-educated with good incomes'. They include corporate presidents, powerful politicians, police, lawyers, doctors, scientists, and other highly-skilled, highly-educated people who are middle- to high-income and by most accounts successful. In this unprecedented book, mental health counsellor Sarah Allen Benton takes us into the worlds and minds of so-called 'high functioning alcoholics' to understand how people so intelligent and achievement-oriented get drawn into states in which they secretly cannot control their alcohol consumption but still manage to excel in their careers.This book includes a look at celebrity alcoholics like Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton as well as high-functioning alcoholics in the news ranging from University of Mary Washington President William Frawley to famed racecar driver Al Unser, Jr.

This book also includes personal interviews with high-functioning alcoholics who have avoided headlines but been addicted to drinking, from professors and an engineer to a corporate president, attorney, and other high-powered achievers. With her own story of alcoholism and recovery woven into this text, the author takes us into the worlds and minds of these well-educated and successful people, to understand how, when, and why they become addicted and the reasons their alcoholism is for most so hard to admit, cope with, and recover from.

About this edition

• Publisher: Praeger
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0313352801
• ISBN 13: 9780313352805
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224