The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has updated its Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including with new information specifically addressed to individuals in the European Economic Area. As described in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences.

Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.

×
No Access

The future of alcohology: craft or science?

Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.133.6.641

The authors discuss the problems that have resulted from the influx of professionals into the field of alcoholism, which has historically been dominated by paraprofessional workers. The interaction of the professional alcohologist, who operates from a scientific model, with the paraprofessional worker, whose model of treatment has followed craft lines, has created unique problems and tensions. A synergism has been created which has been detrimental rather than complementary. The authors suggest that the future of the alcoholism field will have to be established along craft (paraprofessional) or scientific (professional) lines because the two models cannot profitably co-exist.

Access content

To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.