ALCOHOLISM RECOVERY PROGRAM

WHEREAS, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare has declared alcoholism "the nation's number one health problem;" and

WHEREAS, alcoholism has been formally and scientifically recognized as a disease by the American Medical Association, "Those excessive drinkers whose dependence on alcohol has attained such a degree that it shows a noticeable disturbance or interference with their bodily or mental health, their interpersonal relations, and their satisfactory social and economic functioning;" and

WHEREAS, the World Health Organization describes alcoholism as: "a chronic illness that manifests itself as a disorder of behavior. It is characterized by the repeated usage of alcoholic beverages to an extent that exceeds customary dietary use or compliance with social customs of the community and that interferes with the drinker's health or his economic or social functioning;" and

WHEREAS, long established union-management programs have shown that when the disease concept is accepted and when alcoholism is diagnosed and treated as a disease, 60 percent to 80 percent have achieved long-term stable recoveries:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers recognize the disease concept of alcoholism and the effectiveness of joint labor-management Alcoholism Recovery Pogroms; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT establish a program appropriate for school personnel and other AFT members, similar to the existing model developed by the New York State United Teachers.