What to do when your professor is an alcoholic

[Foscarnet]

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[tungsten87]

My professor has been a great role model and we're pretty close but I've noticed that this person drinks...a lot. In fact ths person "pre drinks" for events and drinks at every conference. I'm worried because they've become somewhat of a friend and I don't want to be am enabler but I also don't know if I should do some sort of intervention. I've got some projects going on with the professor and I don't want to risk messing that up but the same time I'm worried about their health.

What would you do or what would you recommend me to do?

=/= alcoholic?

 

[Foscarnet]

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[BrightLight]

Easily. Just pour some metronidazole powder into his drinks.

 

[npage148]

Get him a bottle of his favorite spirits for the holidays = Guaranteed A.

Once you get into the adult world your opinion on what is problem drinking will shift greatly

 

[Foscarnet]

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[Momus]

He should not be on the road, he will kill someone eventually. It's time to be sneaky and get him a ~$10,000 ticket (DUI) 😡

 

[npage148]

I'm older than you think and I live in the adult world. This is problem drinking. Other people have noticed. I just don't know if I should ever say something because other people don't seem to want to get involved since this person is important or whatever. I'm just worried about their health and their ability to function.

I never said anything about age (maybe it's a point of contention with you) but the fact is that, in my experiences, a good percentage of people are "problem drinkers" and if I went around having interventions for the ones I care about then I'd have 1/3 the family left and 1/2 the friends. Unless I see something immediately dangerous I dont get involved especially if I have a limited backstory or really don't know the person as well as I think I did

 

[tungsten87]

I'm older than you think and I live in the adult world. This is problem drinking. Other people have noticed. I just don't know if I should ever say something because other people don't seem to want to get involved since this person is important or whatever. I'm just worried about their health and their ability to function.

unfortunately it's not really your place to say anything to him. if your school offers an "impaired professionals committee" you could mention something to them but I still don't think it's a good idea.

 

[Momus]

If you are really close to this person, I'd mention something. A real friend does the hard thing. They tell the truth. You should point the problem at least once and be very concern when you tell him this. Let him do whatever he wants after that...

 

[joetrisman]

Get him a bottle of his favorite spirits for the holidays = Guaranteed A.

Once you get into the adult world your opinion on what is problem drinking will shift greatly

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." - Frank Sinatra

1k posts!

 

[BidingMyTime]

My professor has been a great role model and we're pretty close but I've noticed that this person drinks...a lot. In fact ths person "pre drinks" for events and drinks at every conference. I'm worried because they've become somewhat of a friend and I don't want to be am enabler but I also don't know if I should do some sort of intervention. I've got some projects going on with the professor and I don't want to risk messing that up but the same time I'm worried about their health.

What would you do or what would you recommend me to do?

Well, this is tricky. A heavy or frequent drinker isn't necessarily a problem drinker/alcoholic, but his heavy drinking in combination with driving drunk would point to him/her being at least a problem drinker, if not suffering from full-blown alcoholism. Enabling has nothing to do with trying to get someone to quit drinking (you can't change anyone but yourself), enabling has to do with pretending that problem drinking is normal (when its not) and asssisting/covering up with problems caused by a drinker.

You say you are friends with him....but if (s)he is your current professor, you can't be friends on an equal footing, not like you are friends with your fellow students. Anything you say to him/her, especially if this person is an alcoholic, may be reflected in your grade/LOR/etc.

I would also be suprised if the higher officials at your school weren't aware of this. If your professor is drinking heavily throughout the day, and at every conference, surely at least some of the other faculty at your school are aware of the problem (and apparently choosing to ignore it...does your professor drink at school? Is your professor is only drinking outside of school and school functions, if that's the case & (s)he is tenured, the administrators may be limited in what they can do.

My initial thought, the next time your professor is driving drunk, try to talk him/her out of it. And if the professor insists on driving drunk, call the police. You may save a life, and a DUI will force the professor to look at his/her drinking habits. A DUI may seem like a harsh consequence, but it's not as harsh as a car accident caused by a drunk. I am assuming you are not riding with your professor when (s)he is drunk--if you so, not only are you putting yourself in danger, but you are indeed being an enabler by pretending your professor is safe to drive.

 

[tongiecc]

Easily. Just pour some metronidazole powder into his drinks.

Dang it!! you totally stole my disulfiram-like reaction thunder bro! I was totally gonna say that!!

 

[gadlo]

There is only so much that you can do to influence people. Ultimately they must make changes themselves. This is especially true when it comes to drug abuse/addiction.

I'd say something the next time he is unprofessional or isn't pulling his weight because of drinking. Say that you are his friend and concerned about his health. After that, there isn't much you can do except be very supportive of non-drinking opportunities. If he gets a grip and changes, then great. If he doesn't, then think about your own career and perhaps cut ties.

My ex-wife wouldn't quit drinking for me, you shouldn't expect that this guy will quit drinking because you said something. Be realistic. Say something as a friend or when it is apparent that his drinking negatively impacted his work performance and relationships. Other than that, be prepared to move on and wish them the best.

 

[xiphoid2010]

My professor has been a great role model and we're pretty close but I've noticed that this person drinks...a lot. In fact ths person "pre drinks" for events and drinks at every conference. I'm worried because they've become somewhat of a friend and I don't want to be am enabler but I also don't know if I should do some sort of intervention. I've got some projects going on with the professor and I don't want to risk messing that up but the same time I'm worried about their health.

What would you do or what would you recommend me to do?

hey, I used to "pre drinks" before I went a club, because I wanted to minimize blowing money on overpriced drinks at the scene. 😀

Most people have gotten wasted at social events, but I don't think most are alcoholics. Also an Irishman might drink an Asian under the table, but the Asian might be the actual alcoholic.

I personally think what makes alcoholic is not the amount but the problems with drinking. Need a drink or feel like crap? Yes. Drink when they know it's hurting their job/family/health. Yes.

The think you need to stop your professor from doing first is drink and drive. Stop that at once before he get someone killed.