Evening star., 1938-04-13
Effects of Alcohol on 4.
Behavior and Character
TO the Editor Of The Star:

Your splendid newspaper has re.
peatedly recognized its responsibility to
the public In discussion OF the alcohol
question. AS one of your regular readers,
I find myself in disagreement with the
position taken by DR.. Edward A.
Strecker of the University of Pennsyl-
vania, who urges moderation" in the
use Of alcoholic beverages through his
letter which appeared in your issue of
March 8.
All scientists agree that alcohol Is
narcotic, habit-forming, depressant drug.
Its toxic effects are profound and un-
falling, either prompt or delayed, either
In minute or In excessive doses, different
persons being affected differently. Like
other drugs, it may possibly be taken
over rather long period of time without
obvious disturbance of health. This,
however, is purely academic statement,
based upon the assumption that the in
dividual perfectly understands his
physiology, his psychology, and the dose
limit adapted to his individual peculiari-
ties.
The following established facts may
not be safely overlooked:
l. Laymen do not (and many physi-
clans, likewise) thoroughly understand
their physiology and their psychology.
2. Alcohol. by inhibiting the higher
controls, producing fictitious sense OF
well-being, soon impairs the power Of
Judgment and discrimination; the person
who takes one cocktail is, by the action
OF the alcohol itself. made an incom-
petent judge of whether he might take
another without actual harm.
5. When does continued drinking be-
come inexpedient? An alcohol concen-
tration in the blood even though small
enough to produce no effects apparent
to casual observers, makes man unsafe
as motor driver, slightly greater con-
centration leads him to think that he is
acting discreetly, talking brilliantly.
when he is actually foolish in both be-
havior and speech.
4. 1t is grave error to regard only
acute alcoholism as an evil: the chronic
effects of continued drinking are often
both personally and socially much more
important
The youth who wishes to determine
wisely his attitude toward this social
custom should consider the average ef-
rect OF alcohol upon a group of, say,
l,oO0 youths who take the first drink. He
Will most probably find these facts:
l. certain number will become ad-
diets CASUALLY estimated at 300, with
physical organs and psychological states
seriously damaged.
z. Most Of these fprobably alb who do
not become addicts will surely suffer de-
generatlVe changes in their physical
organs.
5. In almost every case, those who be-
gan by drinking quite moderately will
eventually consume much more due to
the simple fact that an increased dose
is necessary to produce the desired effect.
When patient asks a physician
whether an occasional cocktail will do
MN any harm the only honest answer
| possible Immediately is Il do not know"
In determining his final advice the
physician must consider many factors
ABOUT the patient. viz, age. occupation,
sex, heredlty. kind of alcohol to be used
the frequency OF ingestion. race, nation
allty. climatic environment, time Of
drinking with relation to meals and kind
OF meals, the emotional status, etc. etc.,
etc. After completing this careful in
Vestlgatlon. II he discovers no definite
contra indication, the only sound an
sWer possible from the physician want
ing to be both generous and scientific) is.
take an occasional cocktail with safety.
but do not know"
Moderation with most persons is not,
during particular period. as bad as
excess, but it does lead to excess much
more quickly than drinkers realize, as
general rule. An effort to inculate the
view that moderation is, in itself, harm
less to the individual and socially de-
sirable, is an erroneous approach toward
the whole problem. II alcoholic con-
sumption were not already established
as a social custom, an effort to establish
1t would be opposed vigorously and with
as much justification as is the effort. due
to economic motives, to spread the use
OF marihuana now being opposed.
When the physician advises the pa
tient that total abstinence is safe and
sound, he knows; when he advises mod
Grafton, he is merely guessing.
EVERETT NJ ELLISON,