The stigma attached to being an alcoholic; to having an alcoholic ‘on our firm’ continues to prevail in many professions and as a result those individuals that are affected by the illness are in danger of being ignored at least or discriminated against at worst. The route for employers in dealing with this problem is the same as the route for the sufferer who is intent on achieving recovery.

The employer must face the problem head on; he must accept that the problem is real. He must confront his own attitudes towards and feelings about alcoholics and alcohol. He must learn about the nature of the illness, the signs and symptoms and the recipe of contributing factors. He must accept that this is an illness and he must accept that in relation to this life threatening illness he and the Company have responsibilities and he must create a structure through which individuals will find it easier to ask for and receive help. He must educate everyone and he must ensure that the prevailing negative attitudes change to positive. In short, by changing the attitude of a profession; by changing a company’s attitudes and by changing a cultural attitude, you can make it easier for individuals who are suffering from the painful and debilitating effects of Alcoholism, own up, ask for and receive help. Whilst everyone else denies the problem, then the Alcoholic must deny it also.

Quite apart from the obvious long term economic benefits this approach will have for the companies involved and the Profession in general, it would seem to me to be simply fulfilling the moral duty of care obligations that companies have towards their otherwise committed and dedicated employees.

1700 words

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Alistair Rhind is an Addiction Treatment Consultant with over 30 years experience working with and successfully treating Alcoholics. He has been Senior Therapist & Director of Treatment at several Treatment Centers in The UK including The Priory, Promis Recovery Centre and Charter Medical Europe. More recently he was Director of Alcoholism Treatment with Cygnet Health Group at Bowden House. He has trained extensively in the US and this country in Addiction Therapy and was privileged to train in the early 80s under the clinical guidance and supervision of DR Max Glatt (dec.), leading European and Worldwide Medical authority on Alcoholism and its treatment.

Alistair has worked in an advisory capacity with many companies over the years> His work has benefited companies such as Legal & General, Irish Life, Eagle Star & Churchill Nationwide. He has secretly worked with many clients from most of the Top Legal firms in the UK and many from Europe as well as leading Merchant Banks.

He currently acts as Consultant, advisor & Trainer in Europe with companies intent on modernizing their attitudes and policies regarding Alcoholism and Treatment.