Evening star., 1947-02-14

No scientific" treatments have been
discovered which would relieve a COM
munity OF the burden of alcoholics even
if it were willing to spend unlimited
funds to that end.
As far into the future as can be seen,
there will always be drunkards, sen-
fenced to Jail or workhouSe. But there
are tested methods which should reduce
the number of drunkards over period
of years. Alcoholism, now termed the
Nations fourth public health problem,
may be diminished. 1t will never be
eliminated.
The foregoing is the opinion OF persons
probably best informed on the subject
the men of Yale University's Section of
Alcoholic Studies. The Star sent this
writer to New Haven to discuss with
these men the Hebert bill now before
Congress.
The Hebert bill would tax the sale of
LIQUOR in the District for scientific re-
Mobilization of alcoholics. The bill de-
clares the chronic alcoholic sick
man." allows the judges to find that
repeaters are chronic alcoholics and
turn them over to the scientific rehabil-
itators for period Of 80 days. They
would not necessarily be incarcerated
for this period. Cost Of constructing
and maintaining the establishments
necessary for this program would be
met by to 3 per cent tax on the
retail price of liquor. A five cent tax
on every fifth of liquor Qess than
per cent of current retail prices would
raise 81, ,250,00 year.
More Than Necessary, They Think.
That sum raised the eyebrows of the
Yale experts. Instead of gloating over
what could be done in that field of
their interest with so much money,
they were OF the opinion that it was
far too large; that $250,000 a year re-
sulting from a tax of l cent bottle
was all that could be prudently be
spent in starting such a program. Con-
necticut realized 100000 for the same
purpose last year from special liquor
tax and, due to the difficulties of OBJ
tanning qualified personnel, has hardly
dipped into it as yet.
DR.. E. M. Jellinek, head of the section,
has been making study of Washing
tons alcoholism problem among other
major cities. He estimates there are
5000 chronic alcoholics in Washington.
in the Hebert bill Even frequent
repeater might not be within DR.. Jel-
linek's category. To him a chronic al
coholic is drinker who needs special
treatment because of mental or physical
disorders. He estimates that there are
in Washington another $1,000 problem
drinkers" whom he would term inepri-
ates or compulsive drinkers. There is
nothing wrong with them except that
they drink too much. For the purposes
Of rehabilitation, he said, the whole
10000 could be Jumped together. They
are the problem. The problem cannot
be eliminated but the numbers can be
reduced, he said
His figures tailed closely with the
conclusions Of the writer made from
Washington police statistics. Arrests
for drunkenness in Washington mount
to the amazing total of $4,000 year.
But that does not mean $4,000 persons
Repeaters reduce the actual number
involved to perhaps $4,000. Many Of
these are not alcoholics at all. They
Just had the misfortune to get intox-
icated and arrested. But elimination
of these is counterbalanced to an extent
by the great number of alcoholics who
never fall into the hands of the police.
The Alcoholics Are Older People.
It was interesting to learn that when
DR.. Jellinek charted Washington's alco-
holics per 100000 population the curve
took downward sweep through the war
years that would record the elimination
of alcoholism as problem should the
trend continue into the future. But DR..
Jellinek realized that Washington's "a
per cent increase in population since
1910 was largely young people-who are
hardly ever alcoholics unless there is
something wrong with them mentally.
1t was surprising to find the Yale men
rather envious of the Districts equip
,nent for handling drunkards as COM
pared with that in their own State.
Connecticut and its counties have no
penal establishments with farms, such
as the Occoquan Workhouse, where in