Evening star., 1947-02-15
It Can Be Done Here
Connecticuts Experience in Treating Alcoholics
Proves Rehabilitation Is Possible
By George Kennedy
Third and Last of a Series)

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problem drunk have been encouraging,
not discouraging.
At the Yale clinic, now in its fourth
year, they have been going after
some of the tough ones. They have a
representative at New Haven police
court, man with a personal experience
as an alcoholic. On instructions from
the clinic, he has been asking for some
of the absolute down-and-outers.
you don't want that one" the judge
will say, you'll never be able to do
thing with him."
Eyes, give him. to me-" says the clinics
picker. And he gets him. Under the new
Connecticut law the clinic is IAN inebri-
ate asylum" and the courts can remand
a drunkard to its custody for as long
as three years. He can walk the streets
but he has to report to the clinic regu-
larly for treatment.
Raymond Mccarthy, rather serious
young man who was headmaster of
school in Massachusetts,, runs the clinic.
He reports they are able to help this
type-get them back at their old ways
of making living and away from
itinerant dishwashing.
Prof. Bacon, who is chairman of
the State fund which has already &C
cumulated to more than 100000, told
the writer how it was going to be spent.
He intends to acquire building in Hart
ford to house 20 hospital beds and the
Impatient clinic. That will cost $4,000.
The Yale clinic gets $500 a year
Git has other income). The Office of the
executive director of the board in New
IJou &,
a year. And in all the board plans four
clinics, each of which will handle about
300 new cases year.
A longtime Accumulation.
Connecticut's problem, he said, comes
to about 1000 chronic alcoholics in
group of about 10000 problem drinkers.
The figures for the clinics seemed
small alongside those of the problem.
When are you going to take real
bite in it?" the writer asked.
You have to remember" said Prof.
Bacon, "that this mass of alcoholics,
10000 in Connecticut-20,0 900 in Wash
ing-took a long time to accumulate.
Now with four clinics taking 300
new patients year-that makes 1900
a year; 5000 in five years. And II we
continue the rate of the Yale clinic in
helping half of them-thats 5000
helped. That's taking bite in it. Some
of your older drrnkards are dying off
in the meantime and as you begin deal
ing with more persons in the first few
years of difficulty with drinking the rate
of those you help should go up"
1t still seemed small bite to the
writer-who, lacking experience in re-
habilitation work, is impatient to see
something happen. 1t does seem that
Washington, with no dimension larger
than 10 miles as opposed to Connecti-
more.
The revenue can be had. Few drinkers
would object to a tax of per cent on
bottle of liquor to rehabilitate the
drunkards. That would raise $250,000
a year. Washington does not need to
make the capital expenditures for hos
pitalization of drunkards that Connec-
ticut is making. In addition to the
alcoholic wards in Gallingers psychiatric
division, there will be an alcoholic ward
in the new George Washington Univer-
sity Hospital.
Why Not Follow 1t Up?
A step has been made in the right
direction. The clinics for white alco-
holics at the Force school and for
colored at the Polk school are now
handling so new cases month-that is
600 a year, which is taking bite in the
problem in proportion to DR.. Bacon's
figures. But the clinics are not the
Yale clinic. They operate on inadequate
funds and the willingness of DR.. Leopold
Wexberg, Health Department psychia-
trist, to work night and day. And 1t
is part-time clinic.
There is a man In the District of
Columbia branch of the Municipal Court
(police court) who is greatly interested
in the problem and has been working
on it. He is Robert J. Conner, proba-
ton officer He says he is willing to take
$50 alcoholics on probation. But when
the big load of the alcoholics is allowed
to fall on probation Office, the office
turns from its primary function which
is to help correct more serious types of
delinquency. Mr.. Conner could play the
role of picker for the involuntary clinics
when they are legislated.
Judge Fay Bentley of Juvenile Court
has accepted the presidency of the
Washington Committee on Education on
Alcoholism The national committee
started at Yale. She is trying to raise
$4,000 to give the public current in
formation on the subject.
Representative Miller, Republican, of
Nebraska, is head of subcommittee of
the District committee which has the
Hebert bill. He has called a meeting
for Monday to consider it and other
legislation.
What is needed in Washington is for
everyone concerned to get together and
exchange information on this subject,
the police, the judges, the custodians of
the Jail and of the Lorton institutions.
the Health Department, the Alcoholics
Anonymous. If hearings are scheduled
for the Hebert bill that would be good
place to do it.
A Gift From America