His body began shaking violently as his eyes rolled back in his head. A withdrawal seizure, right there in the middle of the floor in the center of our group circle. Twenty minutes later the medical staff finally had him semi-alert and sitting up in a chair. This adventure would be repeated twice more by the same fellow on the same day. It isn't a pretty sight.
Alcoholism is a painful physical addiction every bit as powerful as the strongest narcotic.
Later that evening, during outside visitation hour, the beautiful wife of one of our three week patients stopped in to say hi. That she was. Curves like fine geometry, eyes that mesmerized, and a toothless grin. Alcoholism is a family disease. It hurts the ones we love the most.