Table Of ContentUNDERSTANDING
THE HIGH-FUNCTIONING
ALCOHOLIC
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UNDERSTANDING
THE HIGH-FUNCTIONING
ALCOHOLIC
Professional Views and Personal Insights
Sarah Allen Benton
The Praeger Series on Contemporary Health and Living
Julie Silver, M.D., Series Editor
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Benton, Sarah Allen, 1976–
Understanding the high-functioning alcoholic : professional views and personal insights /
Sarah Allen Benton.
p. cm.—(The Praeger series on contemporary health and living, ISSN 1932–8079)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978–0–313–35280–5 (alk. paper)
1. Alcoholics. 2. Alcohol—Physiological effect. 3. Alcoholism. I. Title.
RC565.B463 2009
616.86’1—dc22 2008040393
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available.
Copyright ⃝C 2009 by Sarah Allen Benton
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be
reproduced, by any process or technique, without the
express written consent of the publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2008040393
ISBN: 978–0–313–35280–5
ISSN: 1932–8079
First published in 2009
Praeger Publishers, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
www.praeger.com
Printed in the United States of America
The paper used in this book complies with the
Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National
Information Standards Organization (Z39.48–1984).
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Copyright Acknowledgments
The author and the publisher gratefully acknowledge permission for use of the following material:
“Wasted”—Words and music by Marv Green, Troy Verges, and Hillary Lindsey ⃝c 2005 Warner-
Tamerlane Publishing Corp., Raylene Music, Songs from the Engine Room and Songs of Universal,
Inc. All Rights for Raylene Music administered by BPJ Administration. All Rights Reserved. Used
by Permission of Alfred Publishing Co., Inc.
The excerpts from Alcoholics Anonymous and the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions are reprinted
with permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. (“AAWS”). Permission to reprint
these excerpts does not mean that AAWS has reviewed or approved the contents of this publi-
cation, or that AAWS necessarily agrees with the views expressed herein. A.A. is a program of
recovery from alcoholism only—use of these excerpts in connection with programs and activities
which are patterned after A.A., but which address other problems, or in any other non-A.A.
context, does not imply otherwise.
This book is for general information only. No book can ever substitute for the judgment of a
medical professional. If you have worries or concerns, contact your doctor.
The names and many details of individuals discussed in this book have been changed to protect the
patients’ identities. Some of the stories are composites of patient interactions created for illustrative
purposes.
Every reasonable effort has been made to trace the owners of copyright materials in this book,
but in some instances this has proven impossible. The author and publisher will be glad to receive
information leading to more complete acknowledgments in subsequent printings of the book and
in the meantime extend their apologies for any omissions.
To all the men and women who battle the disease of alcoholism on a daily basis.
Contents
Series Foreword by Julie Silver ix
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xiii
Part I. Active Alcoholism 1
1. Introduction: High-Functioning Alcoholics 3
2. In the Beginning: High-Functioning Alcoholics in High School 16
3. Freedom: High-Functioning Alcoholics in College 28
4. Adrift: High-Functioning Alcoholics as Emerging Adults 46
5. Falling Uphill: Professional, Intelligent, and Alcoholic 60
6. Attempts to Cure the Problem: Out of Control and Hitting
Bottom 77
Part II. Recovery 95
7. A New Start: The Paths to Sobriety 97
8. Filling the Void: Spirituality, Religion, and the Bottle 118
9. Transformation: The Twelve Steps 133
10. The Challenge: Life in Recovery 153
Appendices 165
A: DSM-IV TR—Substance Dependence Diagnostic Criteria 165
B: DSM-IV TR—Substance Abuse Diagnostic Criteria 166
C: Alcohol Screening Test 166
D: Alcohol Recovery Programs Contact Information 167
viii Contents
E: Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous 168
F: “New Life” Acceptance Program of Women for Sobriety, Inc.—
Thirteen Statements 168
Notes 169
Bibliography 191
Index 201
Series Foreword
Over the past hundred years, there have been incredible medical break-
throughs that have prevented or cured illness in billions of people and helped
many more improve their health while living with chronic conditions. A few
of the most important twentieth-century discoveries include antibiotics, organ
transplants, and vaccines. The twenty-first century has already heralded im-
portant new treatments including such things as a vaccine to prevent human
papillomavirus from infecting and potentially leading to cervical cancer in
women. Polio is on the verge of being eradicated worldwide, making it only
the second infectious disease behind smallpox to ever be erased as a human
health threat.
In this series, experts from many disciplines share with readers important
and updated medical knowledge. All aspects of health are considered including
subjects that are disease-specific and preventive medical care. Disseminating
this information will help individuals to improve their health as well as re-
searchers to determine where there are gaps in our current knowledge and
policymakers to assess the most pressing needs in health care.
Series Editor Julie Silver, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Harvard Medical School
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
