On Auust 2nd 1976 (Simcoe Day or Civic Holiday - take your choice) I was present at the one group meeting held on such occasions in the main lounge at The Donwood Institute.
As usual, there were people there from many different groups representing many different stages of recovery. This mix usually produces interesting and productive discussion. This meeting was no exception.
We got into the business of holidays and, as might be expected, there were two or three in the group who had been thinking in terms of having "a few drinks while I'm on my holidays and get back on my antabuse when I go back to work."
A vigorous discussion led, for the most part, by members who had longer experience in recovery, seemed to bring a logical conclusion - the only way to approach a holiday is to make a decision, well in advance, that you will not risk lousing up another holiday by "experimenting". It was generally agreed that this just does not work.
At this point the conversation took a somewhat different direction - an expansion of scope.
One group member with better than four years in recovery talked about what treatment had meant to him, the difficulties encountered, the changes that he ultimately became aware of and how he viewed himself and his life situation now.
At one point in his stay he made a statement that appeared to be self-contradictory. He said, "I don't like challenges anymore, I just like adventure." Another group member asked him what he meant by it.
I can't quote him verbatim but the general gist of his answer goes like this: "The challenges I refer to are not those that anyone might encounter in day to day living but rather challenges that I created for myself - trying to be a tough guy, when I wasn't; trying to act like a big shot, when I wasn't; trying to show that alcohol wasn't bothering me, when it was. The insurmountable challenge of trying to "catch up" kept me in constant mental turmoil - one day I would promise myself that I would do this and that and when I failed, promise I would do even more tomorrow and fail again."
The group had little or no trouble identifying with some or all of what he was saying, but what about the "adventure" part of what he had said - what did he mean by that? In general terms, he replied this way: "In the beginning I stayed dry because I had no alternative - I knew what would happen if I began to drink again and that added up to disaster. But the longer I stayed dry the better it began to feel. First, physically, I became aware of the simple pleasure of waking up without the pain and confusion of withdrawal. Gradually, I became aware of the changes of attitude of those around me - I sensed a new level of acceptance. Finally, I began to experience the beginnings of self-acceptance and this was the best feeling of all.
"This has taken on, for me, all the aspects of adventure - getting to know and explore the real me, meeting and knowing and being accepted by new people and being just myself with them has been and continues to be, exciting. The challenges that I now have to meet are real and, now, the meeting of those challenges is real adventure... the simple adventure of living as a whole person."
Simple? Perhaps too simple to be fully appreciated, but some how I feel that our friend has found an adventure that will bring excitement and reward as long as he lives it.
MIKE WILSON
DON SAYS: Mike was on the staff of the Donwood when this article was written in 1976. This particularly hit home with me. The real honesty of this man, and the way he now faces his addiction is thrilling. Good for him! I hope he makes it all the way home.
Friday, February 20, 2009
CONTROL EQUALS PLEASURE?
I would like to add one thought to the discussion in the press and other media that suggests that some people who have had an uncontrolled dependence upon alcohol can return to "social drinking".
Most articles that I have read and studies that I have seen refer to "controlled" drinking. The very word "controlled" suggests to me the absence of any easy, stress-free, natural inclination to use alcohol moderately. To attempt to "control" the use of alcohol seems to be a painful and stressful effort to prove a point that has no merit. It doesn't seem to offer one bit of pleasure.
The accepted use of beverage alcohol in our society is meant to be pleasurable. The majority of those who use it are able to restrict their intake in a manner that achieves pleasure without undue efforts of self-restraint.
For those who, for whatever reasons have been unable to use alcohol in this way and have developed an uncontrolled dependence, the consequences are all too painfully known to us.
The need for this group is treatment and recovery.
But recovery is a wide-ranging experience that calls for the best use of all our resources. Re-establishment and maintenance of a good level of physical health - perhaps better than we have experienced in the past - is but the first goal.
Pursuit of even greater, and very real social comfort - reflected in the relationships we develop at home, on the job and in the community - demands the highest goodwill, patience, and sense of purpose that we can muster.
And, finally, we need to regain self-respect, respect of others, self-confidence and a belief in and acceptance of ourselves - to gain a reasonable degree of peace of mind.
All in all, a sizeable task, but an attainable one, if we can devote ourselves to it without needless distraction and self-made stresses. I do not think there can be enough left over to enter into an experiment...an experiment that offers little or no reward and carries the hazard of disaster.
MIKE WILSON
DON SAYS: Mike was on staff at the Donwood Institute when this article was written in October of 1976. As usual Mike has given us a very thought provoking essay, and as usual is very down to earth.
Most articles that I have read and studies that I have seen refer to "controlled" drinking. The very word "controlled" suggests to me the absence of any easy, stress-free, natural inclination to use alcohol moderately. To attempt to "control" the use of alcohol seems to be a painful and stressful effort to prove a point that has no merit. It doesn't seem to offer one bit of pleasure.
The accepted use of beverage alcohol in our society is meant to be pleasurable. The majority of those who use it are able to restrict their intake in a manner that achieves pleasure without undue efforts of self-restraint.
For those who, for whatever reasons have been unable to use alcohol in this way and have developed an uncontrolled dependence, the consequences are all too painfully known to us.
The need for this group is treatment and recovery.
But recovery is a wide-ranging experience that calls for the best use of all our resources. Re-establishment and maintenance of a good level of physical health - perhaps better than we have experienced in the past - is but the first goal.
Pursuit of even greater, and very real social comfort - reflected in the relationships we develop at home, on the job and in the community - demands the highest goodwill, patience, and sense of purpose that we can muster.
And, finally, we need to regain self-respect, respect of others, self-confidence and a belief in and acceptance of ourselves - to gain a reasonable degree of peace of mind.
All in all, a sizeable task, but an attainable one, if we can devote ourselves to it without needless distraction and self-made stresses. I do not think there can be enough left over to enter into an experiment...an experiment that offers little or no reward and carries the hazard of disaster.
MIKE WILSON
DON SAYS: Mike was on staff at the Donwood Institute when this article was written in October of 1976. As usual Mike has given us a very thought provoking essay, and as usual is very down to earth.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
HONESTY IS THE ONLY POLICY
During our stay at Donwood we are afforded the unique (and sometimes painful) opportunity to devote an entire month to the process of self-evaluation. Through the gentle proddings of Mrs. Mary Epp, and the more dramatic confrontations of doctors, movies, video tapes and group therapy, we are gradually led to see ourselves - not only as others see us, but as we really are. The development and degree of acceptance of this self-honesty we are able to maintain during this initial period of introspection, and we begin to build a life free of chemicals.
If we recognize that a prolonged, abusive use of chemicals has led us to poor health physically and socially, then we must also accept the fact that we have become ill psychologically. It seems to me that this symptom of our disease is the most damaging, as our return to total health hinges to such a large extent upon our ability to reverse its ingrained, lingering hold upon us.
Manipulation, procrastination, misrepresentation and self-deception - all employed artfully, almost unconsciously, serves to protect our habit as we move through the addictive process. Our ability to see these patterns of behaviour as having been the controlling influences in our lives is clouded by a mental block known as "defensive thinking." Defensive thinking can continue to be a significant impediment to clear, objective thought, for as long as two years. This we must accept on faith - bewildering and disconcerting as it may seem.
HONESTY: in recognizing the devastating influence the use of chemicals has had upon our lives and the lives of those about us;
HONESTY: in facing up to the impossibility of return to "social" drinking and the need for total abstinence;
HONESTY: in our desire to establish a new pattern of living, and trust in those whose aim is to help us achieve this goal - the kind of trust that allows us to say that we hurt, that we are having difficulty, that we need and want help;
HONESTY: in all our dealings with others - to drop the "front" and to present ourselves as we really are, and the trust that we will be accepted if we demonstrate the same acceptance of others.
HONESTY: with ourselves in all things, and trust in another's motive in pointing out our apparent failures in this area.
This kind of honesty and trust does not come to us easily. Defensive thinking is a powerful force in opposition. We must begin to break it down through a conscious, day-to-day campaign to make self-honesty a way of life. A ten to fifteen minute review of our actions, words and thoughts of today reveals our progress or our retrogression and prepares us for tomorrow's continuing effort. In time, we will establish that peace of mind and self-confidence that rest within any man who can look himself squarely in the eye.
THINK ABOUT IT _ HONESTLY!
MIKE WILSON.
DON SAYS: Mike was on the staff of the Donwood Institute in the 70's when this wonderful article was written. It can stand for the ordinary citizen who does not have a chemical problem. It is a map for healthy living.
If we recognize that a prolonged, abusive use of chemicals has led us to poor health physically and socially, then we must also accept the fact that we have become ill psychologically. It seems to me that this symptom of our disease is the most damaging, as our return to total health hinges to such a large extent upon our ability to reverse its ingrained, lingering hold upon us.
Manipulation, procrastination, misrepresentation and self-deception - all employed artfully, almost unconsciously, serves to protect our habit as we move through the addictive process. Our ability to see these patterns of behaviour as having been the controlling influences in our lives is clouded by a mental block known as "defensive thinking." Defensive thinking can continue to be a significant impediment to clear, objective thought, for as long as two years. This we must accept on faith - bewildering and disconcerting as it may seem.
HONESTY: in recognizing the devastating influence the use of chemicals has had upon our lives and the lives of those about us;
HONESTY: in facing up to the impossibility of return to "social" drinking and the need for total abstinence;
HONESTY: in our desire to establish a new pattern of living, and trust in those whose aim is to help us achieve this goal - the kind of trust that allows us to say that we hurt, that we are having difficulty, that we need and want help;
HONESTY: in all our dealings with others - to drop the "front" and to present ourselves as we really are, and the trust that we will be accepted if we demonstrate the same acceptance of others.
HONESTY: with ourselves in all things, and trust in another's motive in pointing out our apparent failures in this area.
This kind of honesty and trust does not come to us easily. Defensive thinking is a powerful force in opposition. We must begin to break it down through a conscious, day-to-day campaign to make self-honesty a way of life. A ten to fifteen minute review of our actions, words and thoughts of today reveals our progress or our retrogression and prepares us for tomorrow's continuing effort. In time, we will establish that peace of mind and self-confidence that rest within any man who can look himself squarely in the eye.
THINK ABOUT IT _ HONESTLY!
MIKE WILSON.
DON SAYS: Mike was on the staff of the Donwood Institute in the 70's when this wonderful article was written. It can stand for the ordinary citizen who does not have a chemical problem. It is a map for healthy living.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
HEALTHY ALCOHOLICS
EASIER TO TREAT -
Hamilton
Alcoholics are getting onto the band wagon of personal responsibility for health and it's making them easier to treat.
George Blake, director of psychological services at Oshawa General Hospital, and formerly director of its Pinewood Centre for alcoholism, spoke of changing attitudes at the annual Institute on Addiction Studies here.
"We have seen attitudes change from regarding alcoholism as a moral issue, associated with crime and with being bad, to a disease model, and back to the moral issue in disguise...Responsibility for one's health and one's behaviour implies personal standards.
"Those of us who work in clinics are finding it easier and easier to get the alcoholic to respond to treatment." Dr. Blake said. "Certainly our techniques have improved, but also there have been changes in societal attitudes towards alcoholism - employee assistance programs for example - to remove the stigma."
"But most importantly, individuals are finding it easier to make personal decisions about their alcoholism...The alcoholic is part of a trend...people are participating more in health producing activities."Self-imposed health risks, including alcoholism now account for more deaths, hospitalization, and sickness than all viral and bacterial conditions, he said, and the health care delivery system is making individuals more accountable for their well-being.
The medical message is no longer, "You're ill, I'll treat you' but, 'what are you doing to stress yourself'. A measure of how up-to-date your doctor is in his thinking is whether he asks about drinking, smoking, and other aspects of life-style , Dr. Blake said."
TORONTO STAR
DON SAYS: The system if forging ahead in the battle against alcoholism! Let's get the word out, Alcohol kills and maims.
Hamilton
Alcoholics are getting onto the band wagon of personal responsibility for health and it's making them easier to treat.
George Blake, director of psychological services at Oshawa General Hospital, and formerly director of its Pinewood Centre for alcoholism, spoke of changing attitudes at the annual Institute on Addiction Studies here.
"We have seen attitudes change from regarding alcoholism as a moral issue, associated with crime and with being bad, to a disease model, and back to the moral issue in disguise...Responsibility for one's health and one's behaviour implies personal standards.
"Those of us who work in clinics are finding it easier and easier to get the alcoholic to respond to treatment." Dr. Blake said. "Certainly our techniques have improved, but also there have been changes in societal attitudes towards alcoholism - employee assistance programs for example - to remove the stigma."
"But most importantly, individuals are finding it easier to make personal decisions about their alcoholism...The alcoholic is part of a trend...people are participating more in health producing activities."Self-imposed health risks, including alcoholism now account for more deaths, hospitalization, and sickness than all viral and bacterial conditions, he said, and the health care delivery system is making individuals more accountable for their well-being.
The medical message is no longer, "You're ill, I'll treat you' but, 'what are you doing to stress yourself'. A measure of how up-to-date your doctor is in his thinking is whether he asks about drinking, smoking, and other aspects of life-style , Dr. Blake said."
TORONTO STAR
DON SAYS: The system if forging ahead in the battle against alcoholism! Let's get the word out, Alcohol kills and maims.
A MESSAGE FROM DR. LONG
The editor interjects: This article appears to be for the use and edification of the professional staff at the Donwood Institute. However since it was given to this newsletter for publication, your editor deems it quite useful and beneficial for the layman (alcoholics, families of alcoholics, employers of alcoholics etc.). Read it and reach your own conclusions. Don Felstead.
You are involved in the treatment of a very important person (the alcoholic) who suffers from chemical dependency. I should like to present some thoughts concerning this treatment program with emphasis on the concept that alcoholism is an illness. As is true of any illness, the course of this one has phases which characterize it. Of course, given any illness you find that there are variations in the signs and symptoms which any one person who is suffering from it will show. However, to the extent that it is similar, we may suggest remedies which have in the light of experience appeared to help recovery.
First and foremost, we must recognize that chemical dependency involves a continually increasing self destructive process; physically, mentally, socially, and in terms of one's attitudes toward life. In order to treat this condition, abstinence must be complete for one to be able to fully exchange decline for growth and attainment. Generally, when we treat diseased conditions we remove the causer of poisoning by killing off the germs which generate the poison. In the case of chemical dependency we must remove the chemical which is the poison.
Whether we are dealing with illness caused by germs or caused by chemicals, we administer to ourselves, recovery is a project in itself once the cause of the illness has been removed. For those who have become chemically dependent the issues of recovery are perhaps more clear and also more closely related to the chance of relapse than in other illnesses, but only in this manner do they differ. The ravages of any serious illness leave one's body in need of special care, in terms of nutrition, exercise, extra rest. These treatments contribute to physical improvement. The person has suffered socially as well, since he has been out of action and in some illness, social re-entry presents extremely difficult problems. Often social adaption involves getting along without a part of the body or with an appalling disfigurement. In the case of our patients it requires learning how to interact with people without feeling some support from a chemical.
The psychological problems usually related to illness involve lowered feelings of usefulness or of acceptability to others. With chemical dependency, one has the additional negative feelings of remorse, lowered self-esteem, loneliness, defensive thinking and, in about a third of our patients, rather extensive emotional disturbances which preceeded the development of their particular habituation. These conditions require determined action and help not only by the patient but by his family and friends and often by professional psychotherapists. The conditions related to any illness often generate depression and anxiety and even despair.
Finally, consequences of an illness challenge anyone's faith, but especially when the illness has strong moral implications, be it a social disease, the biblical attitudes towards Hansen's disease (leprosy) or habituation to chemicals.
In summary, I present chemical dependence as an illness to you to underline the extreme necessity for those recovering from it to do so with careful attention to all levels of human experience. The patient must provide well for himself physically, emotionally, interpersonally and in terms of a philosophy of life. Those who care must keep in mind that part of our contract in loving others is to support them in accomplishing their goals to the best of our abilities.
DOCTOR LONG
You are involved in the treatment of a very important person (the alcoholic) who suffers from chemical dependency. I should like to present some thoughts concerning this treatment program with emphasis on the concept that alcoholism is an illness. As is true of any illness, the course of this one has phases which characterize it. Of course, given any illness you find that there are variations in the signs and symptoms which any one person who is suffering from it will show. However, to the extent that it is similar, we may suggest remedies which have in the light of experience appeared to help recovery.
First and foremost, we must recognize that chemical dependency involves a continually increasing self destructive process; physically, mentally, socially, and in terms of one's attitudes toward life. In order to treat this condition, abstinence must be complete for one to be able to fully exchange decline for growth and attainment. Generally, when we treat diseased conditions we remove the causer of poisoning by killing off the germs which generate the poison. In the case of chemical dependency we must remove the chemical which is the poison.
Whether we are dealing with illness caused by germs or caused by chemicals, we administer to ourselves, recovery is a project in itself once the cause of the illness has been removed. For those who have become chemically dependent the issues of recovery are perhaps more clear and also more closely related to the chance of relapse than in other illnesses, but only in this manner do they differ. The ravages of any serious illness leave one's body in need of special care, in terms of nutrition, exercise, extra rest. These treatments contribute to physical improvement. The person has suffered socially as well, since he has been out of action and in some illness, social re-entry presents extremely difficult problems. Often social adaption involves getting along without a part of the body or with an appalling disfigurement. In the case of our patients it requires learning how to interact with people without feeling some support from a chemical.
The psychological problems usually related to illness involve lowered feelings of usefulness or of acceptability to others. With chemical dependency, one has the additional negative feelings of remorse, lowered self-esteem, loneliness, defensive thinking and, in about a third of our patients, rather extensive emotional disturbances which preceeded the development of their particular habituation. These conditions require determined action and help not only by the patient but by his family and friends and often by professional psychotherapists. The conditions related to any illness often generate depression and anxiety and even despair.
Finally, consequences of an illness challenge anyone's faith, but especially when the illness has strong moral implications, be it a social disease, the biblical attitudes towards Hansen's disease (leprosy) or habituation to chemicals.
In summary, I present chemical dependence as an illness to you to underline the extreme necessity for those recovering from it to do so with careful attention to all levels of human experience. The patient must provide well for himself physically, emotionally, interpersonally and in terms of a philosophy of life. Those who care must keep in mind that part of our contract in loving others is to support them in accomplishing their goals to the best of our abilities.
DOCTOR LONG
TEENAGERS AND ALCOHOLIC PARENTS
We have frequently been told that when a child has an alcoholic parent he is more apt to be disturbed or immature in his development. To investigate this question we sent two students, working under a grant from the Royal Bank, to go out and interview 54 teenagers who were randomly selected from the same communities whose parents had no problems with alcohol. A control group was thus deliberately chosen because it was felt that teenagers in general may be regarded by some people as disturbed or immature. A second kind of control was introduced as well, in that teenagers with parents who had continued to drink were contrasted with teenagers who parents had stopped drinking.
Interviews with all the teenagers included some testing so that both test scores and opinions could be compared among the groups. When the data was analyzed it was found that teenagers of alcoholic parents were no more disturbed than other teenagers in terms of interpersonal maturity, verbal intelligence, anxiety , depression or social isolation. Nor were they more likely to drink or take drugs. An exception to this was the teenagers took more tranquilizers if their parents continued to drink after treatment. There was also another important difference; Teenagers of alcoholic parents were more estranged from their parents than were the controls. This was more true for teenagers with fathers who were alcoholics than for those with alcoholic mothers.
But there was a gratifying finding. This alienation from parents was generally found to be overcome if the parents had stopped drinking after treatment at the Donwood. Half of the teenagers whose fathers continued to drink, for example, wanted a different father. By comparison, no teenager with a recovered father wanted to replace him. There was also evidence that teenagers compensated for the lack of closeness with an alcoholic father by drawing closer to their peers.
There was one effect which remainded unchanged in response to the father's recovery, however, the teenager's self concept. On this measure the teenager's self-esteem remained impaired, even when the father had stopped drinking. For all the measures of family estrangement and discord, the initial levels were enriched in response to the parent's stopping use of alcohol.
So what were the import findings of this study? That what really was hurt was the relationship between the alcoholic parent and his teenager. Consequently, it seems important in the process of recovering from alcoholism for a parent to re-establish a broken relationship with his children. If this relationship can be improved, it seems unlikely that there will b permanent damage done to the teenagers improvment in such relationships, however, is unlikely to come unless it is worked at, unless children are listened to with care, consideration, and warmth, and unless they are encouraged to express themselves in ways which help them to become independent human beings in their own right.
DR. JOHN MCLACHLAN
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH.
DON SAYS: Dr. McLachlan was on staff at the Donwood Institute at the time of writing this article. What I read into all this is the wonderful success of Dr. Bell's method of studying and helping those addicted to alcohol and drugs. Dr. Bell was brilliant, and we will greatly miss him.
Interviews with all the teenagers included some testing so that both test scores and opinions could be compared among the groups. When the data was analyzed it was found that teenagers of alcoholic parents were no more disturbed than other teenagers in terms of interpersonal maturity, verbal intelligence, anxiety , depression or social isolation. Nor were they more likely to drink or take drugs. An exception to this was the teenagers took more tranquilizers if their parents continued to drink after treatment. There was also another important difference; Teenagers of alcoholic parents were more estranged from their parents than were the controls. This was more true for teenagers with fathers who were alcoholics than for those with alcoholic mothers.
But there was a gratifying finding. This alienation from parents was generally found to be overcome if the parents had stopped drinking after treatment at the Donwood. Half of the teenagers whose fathers continued to drink, for example, wanted a different father. By comparison, no teenager with a recovered father wanted to replace him. There was also evidence that teenagers compensated for the lack of closeness with an alcoholic father by drawing closer to their peers.
There was one effect which remainded unchanged in response to the father's recovery, however, the teenager's self concept. On this measure the teenager's self-esteem remained impaired, even when the father had stopped drinking. For all the measures of family estrangement and discord, the initial levels were enriched in response to the parent's stopping use of alcohol.
So what were the import findings of this study? That what really was hurt was the relationship between the alcoholic parent and his teenager. Consequently, it seems important in the process of recovering from alcoholism for a parent to re-establish a broken relationship with his children. If this relationship can be improved, it seems unlikely that there will b permanent damage done to the teenagers improvment in such relationships, however, is unlikely to come unless it is worked at, unless children are listened to with care, consideration, and warmth, and unless they are encouraged to express themselves in ways which help them to become independent human beings in their own right.
DR. JOHN MCLACHLAN
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH.
DON SAYS: Dr. McLachlan was on staff at the Donwood Institute at the time of writing this article. What I read into all this is the wonderful success of Dr. Bell's method of studying and helping those addicted to alcohol and drugs. Dr. Bell was brilliant, and we will greatly miss him.
PROPHYLACTIC COMMUNITY
With the change in emphasis in the last decade to "Community Psychiatry", various hypotheses, ideas and theories have been postulated as to the cause of mental disease. Objectively, with the aid of statistics, one can say that there is an increase in mental disease, and therefore the cooperation of the total Community is required to prevent further propagation of the disease.
To make this brief resume of a wide subject acceptable, I want to clarify the terminological implications of a few words that are used at random in our daily communication with sick people, e.g. patients with an alcohol problem. Words like Hospital, Treatment, Therapy, Prophylaxis and Cure, have important significance to the patient. To expect maximum results it is imperative that one understands what one is doing, and what one's goals are. Simply these five terms mean: Care, Response, Type, Type of response that prevents disease, and total alleviation of the presenting problem.
When Dr. Bell started in this field about twenty five years ago, he cared, and due to limited Community interest, research programs, funds, and specialized staff, it was difficult for him to obtain the proper response with the limited "types" of therapeutic techniques at his disposal. Hence, over the years, he has built up a team of experts in many areas, so that there is and will be many types of responses to combat alcoholism and addiction, i.e. Prophylaxis. Many researchers have postulated various ideas that can be used to cultivate a "Sterile Community" i.e. free of all major mental disease. When the alcoholic or drug addict breaks away from the parent community, the tendency is to form islands or satellites around the main body. These fragmented individuals develop a life style of their own, and become a threat to the parent body. The question at this stage is "What holds people together in the parent body?"
Obviously, many changes are being made in the Community to prevent disease, with the need for survival being paramount. We should then be looking at what the Community has to offer. Can the alcoholic or drug addict in the fragmented Community accept this? What facilities are there in the Community to prevent further development of mental disease? Are these types (therapies) of responses amenable to all? Unfortunately, one can go on asking all sorts of questions which only indicate group interest and concern to initiate a prophylactic community.
I sincerely do hope that you all will appreciate the gravity of our work, and trust that we can count on your cooperation at all times in the fight against this huge problem, i.e. Alcoholism and Drug Addiction.
"To admit is to succeed - to deny is to fail".
NEIL R. MAHARAJ, M.D.
DON SAYS: Dr. Maharaj was on staff at the Donwood Institute while I was in residence in 1969 when this was written. I believe it points out the sheer brilliance of Doctor Bell, and the wonderful legacy he left we alcoholics and drug addicts.
To make this brief resume of a wide subject acceptable, I want to clarify the terminological implications of a few words that are used at random in our daily communication with sick people, e.g. patients with an alcohol problem. Words like Hospital, Treatment, Therapy, Prophylaxis and Cure, have important significance to the patient. To expect maximum results it is imperative that one understands what one is doing, and what one's goals are. Simply these five terms mean: Care, Response, Type, Type of response that prevents disease, and total alleviation of the presenting problem.
When Dr. Bell started in this field about twenty five years ago, he cared, and due to limited Community interest, research programs, funds, and specialized staff, it was difficult for him to obtain the proper response with the limited "types" of therapeutic techniques at his disposal. Hence, over the years, he has built up a team of experts in many areas, so that there is and will be many types of responses to combat alcoholism and addiction, i.e. Prophylaxis. Many researchers have postulated various ideas that can be used to cultivate a "Sterile Community" i.e. free of all major mental disease. When the alcoholic or drug addict breaks away from the parent community, the tendency is to form islands or satellites around the main body. These fragmented individuals develop a life style of their own, and become a threat to the parent body. The question at this stage is "What holds people together in the parent body?"
Obviously, many changes are being made in the Community to prevent disease, with the need for survival being paramount. We should then be looking at what the Community has to offer. Can the alcoholic or drug addict in the fragmented Community accept this? What facilities are there in the Community to prevent further development of mental disease? Are these types (therapies) of responses amenable to all? Unfortunately, one can go on asking all sorts of questions which only indicate group interest and concern to initiate a prophylactic community.
I sincerely do hope that you all will appreciate the gravity of our work, and trust that we can count on your cooperation at all times in the fight against this huge problem, i.e. Alcoholism and Drug Addiction.
"To admit is to succeed - to deny is to fail".
NEIL R. MAHARAJ, M.D.
DON SAYS: Dr. Maharaj was on staff at the Donwood Institute while I was in residence in 1969 when this was written. I believe it points out the sheer brilliance of Doctor Bell, and the wonderful legacy he left we alcoholics and drug addicts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)