Sex, Lies and Other Alcohol-Fueled "Bad Behavior"

Posted on 19 November 2008

New nationwide Caron Treatment Centers poll examines "not-so-merry" workplace and family holiday parties and offers tools for empowerment

From sexual antics with co-workers to acts of violence and embarrassing text messages, alcohol fuels a number of "bad behaviors" at workplace and family holiday parties, according to a new study commissioned by Caron Treatment Centers, one of the nation's leading non-profit addiction treatment centers.

The survey, "Party Drinking or Drinking Problem?" was commissioned by Caron Treatment Centers and conducted by Harris Interactive. This online omnibus poll was based on a nationwide sample of 1,973 adults in the U.S. aged 21 years and over.  Based upon survey findings and the institution's vast experience with this issue, a package of free educational materials and tips was developed:

• How to Manage Holiday Peer Pressure
• Tips for Talking to a Loved One About Substance Abuse
• How to Have a Holiday Party That's Not About the Alcohol
• Tips for Talking to a Colleague About Substance Abuse
• Substance Abuse vs. Addiction
• Signs & Symptoms

"When alcohol prompts bad behavior at holiday celebrations that can indicate something more serious is lurking," said Dr. Harris Stratyner, Ph.D., Regional Vice President of Caron Treatment Centers.  "From an unstable econony to technology that bombards us with information, the state of the world today only increases vulnerability to holiday alcohol abuse and longer-term problems."

This holiday season, nearly 70% of U.S. adults will participate in holiday parties.  According to survey respondents who attend work holiday parties, 64% said these parties can be a hotbed for alcohol-induced "bad behaviors" ranging from flirtations with co-workers or supervisors to aggressive behavior and drunk driving.  For example, one respondent reported that an intoxicated colleague drove into the president's parked car at a work-related holiday gathering.  

Fifty-six percent who attend family holiday parties reported that a family member exhibited inappropriate behavior after consuming too much alcohol at a family holiday party.  Other key findings from the survey included:

Dangerous and Inappropriate  Behavior
Among those who observed inappropriate behavior at workplace holiday parties by individuals who were under the influence of alcohol: 

• 56% observed a co-worker drive even though he or she was drunk
• 49% observed a co-worker flirting with another co-worker or supervisor
• 47% observed another co-worker using excessive profanity
• 44% observed a co-worker sharing inappropriate personal details about themselves or other colleagues

Among those who observed inappropriate behavior at family holiday parties by individuals who were under the influence of alcohol:

• 57% observed a family member starting a family argument
• 44% observed a family member using excessive profanity
• 43% observed a family member "falling down" or "becoming clumsy"
• 35% observed a family member become overly aggressive

"Dangerous and inappropriate behavior can certainly lead to injury or even death in the case of drunk driving, for example, but it can also lead to a damaged reputation, termination from a job, destruction of relationshps, health problems and much more," said Dr. Stratyner.  "One respondent even commented that her colleague had sex in the bathroom with the supervisor while intoxicated during a work holiday party."

How Much is too Much?
According to medical experts at Caron Treatment Centers, one drink could make someone severaly impaired even if their blood alcohol is technically legal.  If a person consumes one drink every hour, he might not be legally intoxicated, but it still may be enough to trigger behavior he would otherwise not engae in.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture's guideline for moderate drinking is up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men.  The USDA also indicates that most people still retain some alcohol in their blood up to three hours after one drink.

However, when asked for the acceptable number of alcoholic beverages for a person to consume at a workplace holiday party, nearly 1/3 (34%) of the respondents felt that it was acceptable to consume three or more drinks at a work party:

• 23% of the sample responded that consuming three to six drinks is acceptable as long as "they can hold their liquor"
• 11% believed that it is okay for people to drink as much as they want as long as they are not driving

Forty-five percent found it acceptable to drink three or more drinks at a family party:

• 23% of the sample responded it is acceptable to consume three to six alcoholic beverages as long as "they can hold their liquor"
• 22% believed that it is okay for people to drink as much as they want at a family holiday party as long as they are not driving

Having Fun vs. Having a Problem
Fifty-four percent of respondents who observed a family member drinking what they considered an inappropriate amount of alcohol during the holiday season, believed this behavior indicated that their family member might have a drinking problem.  However, at a workplace holiday party, only 34% made the same observation that their co-worker's inappropriate level of drinking migh indicate a drinking problem.

Social drinking is so interwoven into the fabric of American society that many people fail to recognize it may be the sign of a chronic illness," said Dr. Stratyner.  "During the holidays, people are particularly vulnerable to drinking in excess and others are willing to look the other way to keep the atmosphere festive."

Physical symptoms of substance abuse include poor physical coordinaton, loss of appetite, increase in appetite or any changes in eating habits, bloodshot or watery eyes, consistently dilated pupils, fatigue and speech pattern change.  A complete list of signs and symptoms is availabe on Caron's website.

People Want to Help
Seventy percent of those who observed a co-worker drinking more then they think is appropriate during a holiday work party agreed they would take action if they witnessed the same co-worker drinking more then they think is appropriate during a future workplace holiday party.  "Taking action" included:

• Arranging for transportation: 63%
• Direct confrontation: 14%
• Talk to someone in HR: 6%
• Recommend counseling: 5%

"The most immediate action one can take, such as arranging transportation home, is a kind and possibly life-saving gesture," said Dr. Stratyner.  "However, sending someone home in a cab does not change their behavior and is simply not enough.  It's important to assess if there is a behavioral issue that needs to be addressed."

Thirty-nine percent of those who have observed a family member drinking more then they thought was appropriate during the holiday season felt it was their responsibility to help and said they would take action.  "Taking action" included:

• Confront a family member directly: 62%
• Get several family members together to express concerns and set limits: 35%
• Inform spouse/parent/loved ones about the problem: 28%
• Recommend counseling: 20%
• Recommend 12-Step program: 11%

Empowering People to Act
As a result of this survey and Caron's ongoing commitment to public education, the organization has developed free tips and tools to help address the issue of responsible holiday drinking.  Armed with information and resources, people in work and family environments can be better prepared to handle the challenges of alcohol abuse and have safer, happier and healthier holiday celberations.  For more information, visit www.caron.org.

Caron tip sheets and full Harris Poll report available upon request.

About Caron Treatment Centers
Caron Treatment Centers is a nationally recognized non-profit provider of alcohol and drug addiction treatment.  With more than 50 years in the field, Caron is one of the oldest and largest facilities offering primary, relapse and extended residential treatment for adolescents, young adults and adults, as well as families affected by the disease of addiction.  Caron's gender separate and gender specific programs are housed in mondern, state-of-the-art faciilties.  Caron has extensive experience in the treatment of co-occurring psychological/psychiatric disorders within its patient community.  Nearly 70% of patients at Caron have co-occurring diosrders.  Caron utilizes research on Recovery for Life from leading institutions such as the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and The University of Pennsylvania's Treatment Rsearch Institute.  Formerly the Caron Foundation, Caron Treatment Centers operates a residential treatment center in Wernersville, in southeastern Pennsylvania; regional offices in Philadelphia, New York City and Bermuda; and Caron Renaissance, an extended care treatment center in Boca Raton, Florida.

Methodology
Harris Interactive fielded the study on behalf of Caron Treatment Centers from October 29-31, 2008, via its Quick Query online omnibus service, interviewing a nationwide sample of 1,973 U.S. adults aged 21 and over.  Data were weighted to be representative of the toal U.S. adult population on the basis of region, age within gender, education, household income, race/ethnicity, and propensity to be online.  No estimates of theoretical sampling error can be caluclated; a full methodology is available on request.

About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is a global leader in custom market research.  With a long and rich history in multimodal research, powered by its science and technology, Harris Interactive assists clients in achieving business results.  Harris Interactive serves clients globally through its North American, Eurpoean and Asian offices and www.harrisinteractive.com.