ALCOHOLISM CAN'T BE CURED, BUT CAN BE BEATEN

WRITTEN BY ANN LANDERS

It has been estimated that about one in every ten North Americans has a problem with drinking. Alcoholism among women in recent years has risen dramatically. Teenage alcoholism has also increased. Excessive drinking costs business and industry billions of dollars a year in loss of production, time away from work and industrial accidents.

The booze problem is not ours alone. In 1976 both the Soviet union and France declared alcoholism the No. 1 public health problem. Incidence of cirrhosis of the liver and alcohol-related car accidents were cited as evidence.

What is Alcoholism? There are many definitions. Like this one sent to me by a reader who described himself as a recovered alcoholic. He wrote. "It doesn't make any difference whether a person drinks whisky, gin, champagne or beer; whether he drinks before breakfast or waits until after dinner; every day or on weekends only; alone or with others; at home or abroad. If drinking continues to disrupt his life, he is an alcoholic." (From alcoholism-challenge for Social Work Education by Herman Krimmel.)

Who is an alcoholic? It can be anyone, male or female, old or young, brilliant or dull, educated or illiterate. He can be extremely successful in business (or a profession) and he can be a skid-row bum.

Alcoholics become lonely people. They are denounced, ridiculed, damned, coddled and cajoled by their friends and families. They are tolerated, shunned, ignored by the public, and questioned and observed by psychiatrists.

LIE FOR THEM:

Their loved ones plead with them, lie about them, shelter, and threaten them. Yet all of this tumult has no effect on the alcoholic's drinking. His only source of comfort is the bottle. There he finds companionship and release from his loneliness, the courage to retaliate against those who infringe on what he believes are his rights.

In the bottle he finds temporary release from his worries, and fears, escape from reality becomes his lifestyle while the chemical dependence traps him into an ever-descending spiral of destruction.

EVEN BEER

I am frequently asked if a man who drinks nothing but beer can be considered an alcoholic. The same question is asked about women who drink, not hard liquor - only white wine. The answer is yes. While it takes more beer and white wine to get drunk than gin or vodka, the net result is the same if these beverages are indulged in to exess consistently.

Another question I am frequently asked is this: "Does alcohol enhance a male's sexual performance?" The answer is no. In fact the opposite is true. While alcohol may help overcome inhibitions, according to the experts, it definitely hinders a male's performance. Physicians also note that heavy drinkers become sexually impotent at a relatively early age.

Recovered alcoholics regain their potency fully, along with confidence that they can perform. Today, thanks to research and education, society recognizes that the alcoholic is ill and that his illness can be arrested.

I hesitate to use the word "cured" because there is no known cure for alcoholism. Once the line has been crossed from normal to abnormal drinking, the victim can never indulge in "normal drinking again. It is poison to his system, but he can learn to live without liquor - as millions of alcoholics are proving again and again.

It is important for the person who has a drinking problem (or is living with someone who has) to be aware that most health insurance policies now provide for treatment for alcoholism. Moreover, help is available - and it is free. I am referring to Alcoholics Anonymous. But the problem drinker must want it. If he is dragged to a meeting by a well-meaning friend or relative, it will probably do no good.

For those who want to act, I recommend AA. Look in the telephone book and give them a call. A member will come to you and discuss your problem. In all probability he will offer to pick you up and take you to your first meeting.

AA is free. It asks no questions and makes no demands. It is an international fellowship of men and women with chapters all over the world. No one bawls out an AA member if he falters and slips. Many AA members backslide before they finally "get" the program.

Their philosophy boils down to this: "If I can live through the next 24 hours without a drink I can stay off liquor for the rest of my life." AA's approach has produced the highest rate of success with problem drinkers. It has succeeded where psychiatry and religion failed. The emotional support and caring of individuals who share the same problem are apparently the key. I cannot emphasize strongly enough the effectiveness of AA. It gets my unqualified approval.

And now an added P.S. In these days of political unrest, financial crisis and emotional upheaval, a word to those of you who are trying to drown your sorrow. Please be aware that sorrow knows how to swim. Alcoholism which often masquerades as social drinking, has ruined more marriages, careers, healthy bodies and fine minds than any single element know to man.

DON says: This is perhaps the finest article that I have ever read regarding alcoholism. I have suffered many of the problems this disease has caused me. Although I tried many times to quit drinking, by slowing down, only drinking on the weekends, and other stringent tries I found that the only way to conquer alcoholism is complete abstinence. Absolutely!