THE MEDICAL MODEL OF REFERENCE, BASED ON THE CONCEPT OF ALCOHOLISM AS AN ILLNESS, CONSTITUTES THE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENTAL STANCE IN THE U.S. THIS MODEL IS INCREASINGLY INCORPORATED INTO OFFICIAL REACTIONS TO ALCOHOL PROBLEMS IN THE U.S.S.R., BUT A STRONG ELEMENT OF THE MORAL FRAME OF REFERENCE, WHICH ASSUMES PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY OF AN ALCOHOLIC, REMAINS FORMALLY INTERMINGLED WITH THE MEDICAL DEFINITIONS. THE PERSISTENCE OF THE JUDGMENTAL ELEMENT RESULTS FROM THE SOVIET SUSPICION THAT ALCOHOLISM IS AN EXPRESSION OF ANTI-COMMUNISM. AS A RESULT, THE U.S. PLACES EMPHASIS ON THE HEALTH COSTS OF ALCOHOL ABUSE, WHILE SOVIET UNION EMPHASIZES THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ALCOHOL ABUSE AND CRIME. HOWEVER, THE PREVENTIVE APPROACHES ARE SIMILAR, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PUNITIVE ELEMENT IN SOVIET STRATEGIES. PROGRAMS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF EMPLOYED ALCOHOLICS, WHICH LINK POOR JOB PERFORMANCE TO THIS PROBLEM, HAVE DEVELOPED IN BOTH COUNTRIES. THESE PROGRAMS SUPPORT THE MEDICAL MODEL AND ASSIGN RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEALING WITH ALCOHOLICS TO THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. THIS PRECLUDES CHALLENGES TO BOTH NATIONS' POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ORGANIZATION. IN VIEW OF THIS, INSTITUTIONALIZATION RATHER THAN THE REDUCTION OF ALCOHOLISM IS PREDICTED FOR BOTH COUNTRIES, ALTHOUGH THE SUCCESS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WARRANTS MORE OPTIMISTIC PROGNOSES FOR THE U.S. A LIST OF 43 REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.