Alcoholism and Executives

During the 17 years I’ve worked in addiction treatment, I’ve seen people from all walks of life with an alcohol, or some other drug, problem. I’ve worked with a top insurance executive, the head of a psychology department at a major university hospital, a South American entrepreneur who’s wife, when I contacted her to attend our family week, had to be pulled away from a meeting with Prince Charles and Princess Dianna at Wimbleton. I’ve counseled priests, stock brokers, professors, business owners, politicians, and people from every imaginable profession.

The point is that alcoholism is not confined to poor people or the middle class. The old image of the gutter bum drunk is not representative of alcoholism at all. In fact, people who make a lot of money on average drink more than others who make less money. Alcoholism and executives might not compute with many in the business world. Most of these rich, successful people who drink alcohol are not alcoholics – however, 10 to 13 percent are alcoholics. Successful people can hide their alcoholism longer, can pay off certain consequences, are protected by underlings in many cases and are often ignored by their superiors who don’t suspect that such high functioning executives can have a problem with alcohol.

The high functioning alcoholic has difficulty accepting their drinking has become a problem that requires treatment- they are accustomed to dealing with problems and overcoming obstacles – so the denial is often stronger with this type of alcoholic. It doesn’t help that others who are dependent on the executive alcoholic help strengthen this denial. The high functioning alcoholic has a hard time in therapy groups, because he/she wants to lead the group not be an equal or a beginner/learner in groups. If the executive/professional alcoholic has hit a hard bottom, he/she might be more humble and ready for treatment. Sometimes it takes a devastating experience to get the attention of the high-functioning alcoholic.

Here is an excerpt from an article from Promises:

And even when things do start to fall apart, because they’re in supervisory or management positions, executives are able to hide their problem drinking more easily than those with less authority. These individuals are like islands in the workplace, seldom having to worry about superiors checking up on them or looking over their shoulder. Even when the long nights and lost weekends start to catch up with them, addicted executives are usually able to escape detection for a time, relying on their reputation and status to cover for their increasing inability to perform.

Alcoholism is a devastating illness for anyone, but executives frequently use their positions and privileges to keep the denial train running long past the point of no return. When they do finally plunge off the cliff, the tumble is often long and hard, ending in disgrace, embarrassment, job loss and arrest for driving under the influence (DUI) in a great number of instances. Their fall from grace often becomes public knowledge, and the whispers and finger-pointing become all but impossible to escape.

It’s best if a successful person can realize they have a problem and seek treatment before they hit a tragic bottom. With more information about alcoholism and drug addiction propagated on the internet, maybe high functioning alcoholics will seek treatment sooner.