Most Employee Assistance Pprogram
 historians agree that the concept of referring employees to the EAP based on ongoing performance problems, not personal problems, originated in the late 1950s with occupational alcoholism program pioneer, Lewis Presnall. Operating a company alcoholism program at a copper mine, he was able to identify many more alcoholic employees when he trained supervisors to refer employees to his program based strictly upon performance and attendance problems. This concept took hold quickly and advanced the popularity of occupational alcoholism programs (OAPs). This led to federal funding of such programs. Later "broad-brush" EAPs emerged in the early 70s to respond to the wide range of personal problems employees face. Today, performance-based referrals to EAPs by supervisors remain a cornerstone of their successful operation. This principle is particularly important when performance problems unknowingly are caused by personal problems rooted in denial, or the inability of the troubled employee to identify symptoms.

Author Lewis Presnall, in his book Search for Serenity, states that "in this topsy-turvy world, it’s often the lopsided man or woman who runs the fastest along life’s little side-hill." The "lopsided," or those who have been wounded, are often viewed today as heroes, where once they were victims of stigma. The good news is that those who suffer from mental illness can get well.
 

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The Utah Alcoholism Foundation's publications department was an early pioneer in producing educational books, pamphlets, papers, slides, newsletters and other related materials. The UAF has circulated and distributed these materials nationwide and also abroad. It has also initiated statewide school programs that provide alcohol education to public and private schools, and initiated a prevention program that provided alcohol education to the public. UAF organizers developed a direct approach for prevention and early intervention of problem drinking through direct access to the family with the concept of beginning at home.