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Alcoholism

Policy Date: 1/1/1975
Policy Number: 7513

Whereas, the recognition of alcohol abuse and alcoholism as a serious health, social, and economic problem was underscored by the Congress of the United States in its passage of the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1974; and
Whereas, the American Public Health Association has had a long standing concern for alcoholism as witnessed by the resolution which was adopted at the 1962 Annual Meeting, entitled "Alcoholism as a Public Health Problem"; and
Whereas, a number of forward steps have been taken toward implementation of this resolution and in the passage of P.L.91-616, which created a National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; and
Whereas, concomitantly, there has been greater public awareness of the problem of alcohol abuse and alcoholism as well as increased understanding of the public health ramifications of this problem by the health professions and the health care industry; and
Whereas, official health agencies at the local and state level are engaged in a variety of activities in the field of alcohol abuse and alcoholism, including planning and administration of prevention and treatment programs; and
Whereas, a greater level of effort and commitment is needed in carrying forth the spirit of the 1962 resolution, particularly since:
1. Alcohol abuse continues unabated and is rapidly becoming a serious problem among youth;
2. Alcoholism prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation programs frequently underserve some populations in need such as women, the aged, minority groups, and workers;
3. Provision of care for the alcoholic person suffers from the instability of funding sources;
4. Official resolutions to the contrary, significant service barriers exist in the provision of care for the alcoholic. These barriers range from the attitudes of providers and officials, to administrative regulations, discrimination in reimbursement policies which hamper accessibility, to treatment and resources;
Therefore Be It Resolved that:
1. American Public Health Association reaffirms its previous resolution "Alcoholism as a Public Health Problem" and renews its efforts to make health workers aware of the problem of alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
2. Official health agencies at the local and state level are urged to become actively involved in the following elements of an alcoholism program:
a. Identification of those in need of services and those at risk;
b. Provision of prevention and treatment services, when appropriate;
c. Public education, including evaluation of program effectiveness;
d. Training to sensitize the health professionals and to disseminate knowledge of the problem in its broadest biomedical, epidemiological, mental health, and social aspects;
e. Research to discover underlying causes of alcohol abuse and alcoholism, and to develop effective treatment approaches;
f. Coordination of services to fill gaps, to provide continuity of care and to insure maximum use of limited resources;
g. Liaison with labor and management to encourage policies and programs for alcoholic employees;
h. Mobilization of health resources in the community to insure accessibility of services to the problem drinker and alcoholic, to their families, and to the community;
Be It Further Resolved that the American Public Health Association supports efforts to end discrimination against alcoholic persons in health insurance payments, and that American Public Health Association supports efforts to insure that any systems of National Health Insurance assure the health care of alcoholic persons in the same manner as persons with any other disease; and
Be It Further Resolved, that APHA urges involvement in the planning and development of alcohol abuse and alcoholism prevention and treatment programs by the community health and mental health care structure, and oppose discrimination against alcoholic persons within all community health and mental health care resources.

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