ABSTRACT
The universal human tendency to select out that which enhances a desired position manifests itself in a variety of ways. For instance, it is evident in the use of language: even the most vehement anti-psychiatric members of the recovery service world readily use psychiatric terminology as rhetorical weapons. Increased visibility has brought in its wake increased oversight. It is important to understand that there are multiple audiences demanding proof of efficacy. An even greater numerical misrepresentation occurs because of the need to demonstrate a more global picture of the problem of alcoholism and alcohol abuse. NIAAA is under eternal pressure to devise a more sophisticated means of convincing its audiences of the continual, or better still, increased need for funding. This was underscored once again when Congress added a directive to the 1976 Alcoholism Act Amendments calling for a methodology to measure the incidence and prevalence of alcohol abuse within individual states, for use in determining formula grants.
