Evening star., 1947-05-29
Alcoholism Not Due
To Alcohol Alone,
Senate Unit Told
BY George Kennedy

%S~1f4S kNSsstS&t 8
Alcoholism is not caused by al
co1ol alone, Selden D. Bacon, chair
man Of the Connecticut Alcoholic
Commission, testified before Sen
ate committee today.
We know that of the SO, 900 900
persons who drink in this country,
only a small percentage become al
|coholicss he told Senator Cooper,
Republican, OF Kentucky, chairman
of the District welfare Subcommit-
tee, and Senators Johnston, Demo
crat, of South Carolina and john
son, Democrat, of Colorado. The
committee is considering the Hebert
bill to establish alcoholic clinics in
the District.
Senator johnson, not a member
of the subcommittee. introduced the
legislation in the Senate.
DR.. Bacon was succeeded as a wit
ness by DR.. e. M. Jellinek, physiolo-
|gist at Yale University and head of
the section on alcoholic studies
there.
One Condition Not Enough.
Asked to explain DR.. Bacon's
statement, he said:
When we say that alcoholism is
not caused by alcohol we mean that
alcohol alone will not do it. You
cannot take people at random, give
them alcohol and make them alco-
holics.
Perhaps a certain percentage of
them will become alcoholics. Alco-
holism occurs in persons with GER
tain psylogical deficiencies or certain
physiological deficiencies.
I'VE know that experimental ami
mails with liver deficiencies cannot
stop drinking alcohol and water
given them. AS for person a social
deficiency must also be present.
"One alone of the conditions NAV
not cause alcoholism but when two
or more combine you are likely to
have an alcoholic
Connecticut Work Described.
DR.. Bacon was introduced to the
committee by Senator Baldwin, Re-
publican, of Connecticut, former
Governor of the State. He said that
| it was DR., Bacon who first came to
him with the idea of doing some
thing about alcoholism, based on the
| findings at Yale. The Connecticut
alcoholic law was passed in l945.
| This law taxes liquor licenses an
additional 10 per cent for the alco-
holic program, DR.. Bacon said. It
realized about 100000 a year for
the purpose
In answering questions, DR.. Bacon
said that the State is now spending
only about $4,000 year of that in
come. He said that $25,0OO was
supporting State clinic at Hart
ford; $4,000 was going to the Yale
clinic supported by private funds, to
do additional work, and $4,000 was
going to the expense of a central ad-
ministrative Office.
Personnel Hard to Get.
He said more money would be
spent when the State could obtain
adequate personnel. especially psy-
chiatrists and psychiatric workers
He added that Washington's great
est difficulty in inaugurating such a
program would be in obtaining per-
sonnel.
He was asked whether the clinics
In Connecticut were successful with
persons committed to them by the
courts as well as with those who
came in voluntarily. 1 s1s-a g.
We were quite sure that anyone
who came under pressure would not
do well at all" he said. I'VE ex-
pected these who came from the
courts to show very poor rate
they showed a. very. good one"
DR.. Bacon said his explanation
for this was that the men expected
to be met by doctors in white coats
who would stick needles in them.
When they were met by men who
really know about alcoholism and
were capable of being sympathetic,
he said, it was a shock to them.
This shock brought about a good
rapport he declared.
Money From Liquor Industry.
! DR.. Bacon advised a program in
/ Washington should be started with
careful recording of what should
be done
/ He said he was against the Gov
ernment taking the entire load.
There is one question you haven I
asked me, Senator" DR.. Bacon sale
in concluding, that is, Where are
we getting your money?'
We are getting. our money from
liquor licenses.
Many people are glad to see
this because it is a slap at the
liquor industry. If legislation is
passed on that idea I think it is
a poor start. We are doing it in
Connecticut. The liquor industry is
easy to tax and the money is there
But I think it is a question
whether the Government should
tax one industry for a big public
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