Evening star., 1940-06-18
Society Witnesses
Amazing Comebacks
By Drink Victims
Alcoholics Anonymous
Foster SoIvoeine Of
Wrecked Lives
mo. s OF a Series.)
BY ROBERT A. ERWIN.
mo. s OF a Series.)

BY ROBERT A. ERWIN.
There's melodramatic touch to
some of the achievements of Alco-
holics Anonymous. In the ranks of
these ex-rummies are men who have
lost everything, their family, their
homes and their jobs, men over
whom society has counted "10-and
out Yet they're coming back, un-
doubtedly much to the surprise OF
those who once cast them aside.
One of the best examples of this
achievement, without much eco
nomic wreckage, however, is that of
young engineer, member of dis
tinguished family. He has been
through the mill, the rum, whisky,
beer, gin and every other alcoholic
mill. Just to give him name. we
will call him Mr.. A.
Mr.. A picked up the pieces before
it was too late When he put them
back together, he had picture he
never had seen before. He proved
what the psychiatrists contend
about confirmed alcoholics: namely,
that to overcome the disease, they
must clean house completely and
find new way of living.
Recounts Story.
Sitting behind the little square
table in front of the clubroom where
the Double AS meet each Tuesday
night, Mr.. A told his own story.
My employers did the best they
could with me- he said. They
tried to get me to quit drinking.
I did quit for while, but they
were afraid. I had charge Of
big project and had been on the
wagon. I got so confident of my
self that I started drinking beer.
Next came wine. then whisky, and
was gone again. The job was
gone, too.
That taught me lesson" he
continued, "and then Alcoholics
Anonymous came along, I saw the
light. I came back to job from
which I had been fired once be-
fore, and it's one of the best jobs
I've ever had"
New Friends Necessary.
At this point, Mr.. A told where
his friends come in.
They see you again, and they
offer You drink" he related. You
have nothing in common with them
Boys, it won't work Find yourself
some new friends, friends who are
willing to let you live your own
life. If they don't like you because
you don't drink, they aren't worth
having"
In this thesis, Mr. AS colleagues
concur 100 per cent So does their
doctor friend and adviser.
Reaching our conclusion, the ques-
ton arises, where does Alcoholics
Anonymous go from here? Under
its own steam, it is bound to 60
ahead. With some cooperation
and a new viewpoint from the pub
lie, the results will be even greater.
The doctor friend of the Wash
1ngton A. AS has suggested there
should be "a free institution for al
coholics, and then a place like this. |
once told police Judge that three
months on the rockpile for a drunk
isn't the answer. If a bunch of mar
cotic peddlers and addicts turn up
the police turn out everything but
the hook and ladder trucks. The
public becomes aroused When the
people see an alcoholic they laugh"
Churches Cooperating.
In recent months the Washington
Federation of Churches has become
interested in the A. A. movement
and in collaboration with the Life
Adjustment Center, 1864 Columbia
road NV, has assisted several
A. AS in securing employment.
I'VE are quite interested in the
program and have discussed it with
ministers in the city from time to
time said John L. Nixon, director
OF social welfare for the federation.
Authorities on alcoholism recog-
nize the great value of medical treat
ment and, in majority of cases. the
necessity for it. Medical care often
has brought back victims of drink
W VIC JoillI "IlCIC lllCS dlC lcCcps
tive to Alcoholics Anonymous. Doc
tors and local institutions have CO.
operated in sending their patients
to the meetings
500 RecOveries in a Year.
Part of the clue to the future is
in the record of Alcoholics Anony-
nous for 1889. In that year the A.
AS accompanished more than in
the three years before They count
ed 500 recoveries from alcoholism.
The organization spread in its own
simple, quiet way into many big
cities. Washington is one of them.
Alcoholic Anonymous, as already
has been mentioned, conducts ma
tional business through the mail
address of Alcoholic Foundation,
Box 658, Church street annex post
Office, New York City. There is no
post office box address here as yet.
Public interest in the movement
here already has been reflected by
the number of letters and telephone
calls received by The Star, many
from people who have a friend or