alcohol and other drug problems among addiction professionals

nRecurring ThemesWhile the discussions varied widely in their scope and detail, a number of issuesarose repeatedly during the Symposium Series. These included:◆◆◆◆◆◆◆Lack of data: Early in the first symposium, one participant warned of thedanger of navigating the “data-free zone” that so many of these issues seem tooccupy. This is a natural outgrowth of the lack of attention that this subject hasso often drawn. The lack of empirical data on the incidence, prevalence, andconsequences of these problems sparked many more calls for more informationthat will take this discussion out of data-free zone.Lack of consistent definition of terms: One price of working in an areaof great complexity and diversity is the difficulty of arriving at uniform definitionsof terms as basic as “recovery” and “relapse.” The many shades of meaningattached to these and other words require that the field arrive at a commonalityof terms before it can find common solutions.Lack of knowledge of laws and standards: On many occasions duringthe discussions, participants identified areas of policy in which they neededmore information. These leaders determined that the gaps in their own knowledgeof applicable laws and standards might reflect similar gaps in the field asa whole, including its leadership.Lack of opportunities for discussion: Participants in general agreedthat the topics addressed in the Symposium Series seldom come up for discussionin the field.Intensity and diversity of opinion: Although the sense of camaraderieamong participants never failed, and continued to grow stronger through thetwo symposia, many of the discussions sparked strong and passionate viewpointsacross a wide spectrum of opinion.Lack of consistent policies: In many of these issue areas, participants identifiedinconsistencies among policies within individual organizations, and amongpolicies adopted by organizations with similar characteristics. These inconsistenciesadd a layer of complexity to this inquiry. This is in many ways a legacy of thefield’s “grassroots” past, a legacy that has fostered passion and commitment buthas made the process of maturation and organization more difficult.Lack of adherence to existing policies: Many participants pointedout issue areas in which organizational policies are not followed, or are followedinconsistently. There may be one set of written or unwritten standardsfor people in recovery and another for people who have not self-identifiedas having had a problem with alcohol or other drugs. And in some casesstandards may be applied more leniently to employees who are valued morehighly by the organization.n 12 n