Neill Neill, Ph.D. 

Is the "functioning alcoholic" some sort of mythical figure, or does he actually exist and move among us?

Mark comments in his short article entitled "A Functional Alcoholic?" on the fact people often say at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, "I was a functioning alcoholic." http://www.adozensteps.com/a-functional-alcoholic/

He argues from the perspective of a twelve-step program that there is no such thing as a functioning alcoholic.

I’ve maintained in other writings on alcoholism that "functioning" means three things:

1. You are functioning well in all areas of your life, not just on your job.
2. You are living up to your potential, not just drifting along at a level that barely keeps you employed.
3. You have staying power; if you die prematurely from alcohol-related causes, whether disease, accident, suicide or homicide, you are not functioning. http://www.neillneill.com/category/alcoholism/

I don’t think I’ve ever met such a person; have you? He must be the subject of myth!

Thanks, Mark.

Neill
Practical Psychology for Capable People