Community Providers' Views of Alcohol Problems and Drug Problems.

This study contrasts community health and social service providers' views on alcohol vs. other drug abuse. A probability sample of 457 social work and other providers from a county's public and private medical and mental health clinics, welfare and criminal justice systems, and substance abuse programs, as well as clergy, private therapists, and physicians were interviewed. For both alcohol and drug problems, providers thought only of severe dysfunctions, which suggest that less severe forms of these problems may evade detection. In addition, drug problems were viewed as more harmful than alcohol problems, which may result in providers minimizing alcohol problems.