THE VOCATIONAL-REHABILITATION OF ALCOHOLICS - A RESEARCH NOTE ON THE BUREAUCRATIZATION OF DEVIANCE

The bureaucratization of deviance is explored through an examination of the manner in which the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation applies eligibility requirements to alcoholic clients. Although the bureau assumes a medical model of alcoholism, the ill fit of alcoholism with the disease model makes determining eligibility for benefits especially problematic. A result is that counselors exercise a high degree of discretion which often involves assessing the client's moral worthiness. The agency’s success rate in rehabilitating clients is shown to be an important contingency in the way alcoholic clients are served. © 1990 by Hemisphere Publishing Corporation.