From: cblanc@pomona.claremont.edu (Malevolessence)
Subject: good vodka in finland, but bad karma
Organization: Multinational Corporations, Inc.
Date: 3 Jan 93 17:53:57 PST

> In the long run this might well mean more state money and care for
> alcoholics and more severe penalties and less care for drug users. I
> don't think it's right. As well we could start favoring cocaine users
> and punishing others.
> 
> During the last 12 months drug related news have taken more newspaper
> space than never before here in Finland. And now that we know alcoholism
> is a disease the new evil is clearly marked: drugs. 

	I see now your agenda (remember what I said about that?).  Your
problem is, then, the Finnish press, and not the truth about alcohol.  For one
thing, there is a genetic propensity toward alcoholism clearly measured by
either scientific survey (I'm sure there is some literature on this somewhere,
as I've read some of it, but never thought I'd encounter belligerent users bent
on denial, so threw it out) or commonsense observation -- the children of
alcoholics follow their parents habit, even when removed from the home
environment.  Second, there is a perceivable need in the alcoholic, much like
the addiction of the caffeine user -- headaches, crankiness, etc. that comes
only from being an alcoholic.  Here is where someone's point comes into play: 
what is our definition of a disease?  In this case, mine is that it is a
biological, genetically-transmitable propensity toward alcoholism that will
flower into the full-blown condition if given the proper chance -- that is, if
the person drinks heavily enough to engender the onset ("heavily enough" can be
"once" in many cases).  Second point is that once an alcoholic, always an
alcoholic -- you will still be addicted to the substance, but have the
potential to regulate your behavior regarding it.  Some cases are too extreme
for regulation except cold-turkey quitting and never touching the substance
again.  These facts are verifiable with either a little observation,
interviewing at a treatment center, or checking in a library.  Alcohol, like
any drug, is a tool -- and there are some who should not touch it for the
medical reasons described above.  There are others, the psychological addicts,
who may have the "addictive personality" I hear a lot about or may just be
desperately searching for escape, who will make _anything_ addictive by process
of behavior.  I know people who are "addicted" to dope, even though dope is the
most unaddictive thing I can think of.  I know people who are "addicted to
alcohol" (via this syndrome) who will drink and get drunk whenever possible
(but do not have the thirst of the alcoholic).
	I don't believe that drugs are evil, nor do I believe that alcoholism
being a disease excuses alcohol misuse.  If anything it demands more treatment
-- so I hope that your countrymen (and, for chrissakes, MINE) get their shit
together and start working toward a solution instead of a whipping boy.  Me, I
take that latter role here where I have people raging about the wonders of MDMA
(I don't disagree that it's wonderful stuff) or LSD (ditto; very ditto) but
can't comprehend why you think it would cure alcoholism.  First, as I've
mentioned above, you cannot "cure" alcoholism -- you can regulate the behavior. 
Second, as mentioned in past messages, a  "positive experience" isn't going to
change an alcoholic's need for his substance.  Third, most of the alcohol
abusers who aren't alcoholics are of the addictive personality type, which
would lead them to become MDMA abusers, despite the high tolerance initiated
with each trip ("abuse" comes in many forms, not just what has been the
attempted stereotype here: massive consumption).  Fourth, alcohol is a
different sort of drug than MDMA, which means that those who choose to continue
abusing it (not the worst choice in the world, if you have an Irish liver) will
probably not take to it like the magic breast Sean has suggested.
	So, JJJ, I am sorry for your newspapers.  They suck in this country
too; I worked for one.  I am sorry that you do not understand alcohol very
well, but it places you in good company in this sub, where few people seem to. 
I am sorry addiction, alcoholism, and the nature of regulating oneself are
misunderstood.  But I know that I am correct, and before you spew off another
abusive message about my assertions to this end, save it:  my experience has
depth (in this area) and would make sense if you understood alcohol better.  As
for your mission to rewrite science & medicine so your precious drugs (well,
mine, too) countrymen do not rage on drugs too much, I wish you luck, but
you're bashing away in the wrong area without any effective weapons.

Bucko Gizm
> 
> --
> jjj@mits.mdata.fi | PGP 2.0 key available | PGP 2.0 avain saatavilla
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