Functional Alcoholism and Right-Wing Extremism
Michael asks:
What do you think of “functioning alcoholics?” For
example, my father always drank. He seems to have
slowed down since I was a kid, and since his DUI and
maniacal fights with my mother when they were married
during the 70’s and 80’s, he never appears to exhibit
any of the behavioral cues associated with alcoholism.
He still drinks, I’m sure, more than once a week.
Enjoys drinking “fraternities” such as the Moose and
Eagles. His current wife is not an alcoholic….maybe
she takes up some of the slack such as driving.
I theorize that my family is shot through with
“functioning” addicts. On my mother’s side, I’ve
noticed pompousness and grandiosity in her one (over
achieving) brother, with arrested development in the
other. Extreme thinking is the norm for this side of
the family. Extreme right wingism especially
concerning gun rights.
My father’s family, I would say, 60-75% of them drink
consistently, but are more laid back. Some have
obvious problems but most do not, so alcholism is
never brought up as a reason for anything.
My brother, as well, is an addict. Just until
recently he has been supported by my father…a precedent
my mother started. My father is lucky that my
brother finally attained reasonably employment, since
he only complained, but never stopped financing him and his addictions.
I guess I’m tired of being around so much using.
I appreciate your time and insights,
Michael
Hi Michael,
Most alcoholics are “functional” for 90% of their drinking careers. Your father showed clear signs of alcoholism. Why he no longer exhibits the classic signs, I cannot explain. Either he’s in the latter stages, where he no longer cares about “winning at any cost” (maniacal fights with your mother), but instead concerns himself with simply obtaining the drug at all times. Or, he’s limiting his intake to an amount that raises the BAL to at most .04 or .06 per cent, which may not trigger behavioral symptoms. He may be “good” because of his wife has, in effect, coerced him into limited abstinence.
Extremism on all sides is often a sign of alcoholism. It’s true whether right or left, libertarian or socialist. Sartre was alcoholic; Rand was into amphetamines.
Doug Thorburn