The cultural context of psychological approaches to alcoholism: Can we control the effects of alcohol?

The unique history of alcohol use in the United States has led to the ascendance of the disease theory as the dominant conception of alco- holism. Social-scientific research has consistently conflicted with the disease theory, but psychological and other nondisease conceptions of alcoholism are not well represented in the public consciousness, in treatment programs, or in policies for affecting na- tionwide drinking practices. Conflict in the field has intensified in the last decade, most notably surround- ing the issue of controlled drinking in alcoholism treatment. Our current cultural attitude toward al- coholism, one strongly influenced by disease notions, has not led to an improvement in our society's drinking problems. There continues to be a need for psychologists to present alternative views of alco- holism.