Alcoholism counseling in Norway: an American social worker's experience

This article describes a cross-cultural experience in teaching alcoholism treatment skills and therapy techniques. The current treatment model in America has to be shaped to the requirements of the local scene. The immediate problem was to import a disease-oriented model of alcoholism to a land where most people view alcoholism in terms of individual moral failing. The Norwegian cultural value orientations are defined; then the alcoholism treatment adaptation across language and custom is discussed.