Evening star., 1949-10-09
. THE SUNDAY STAR Washington D. G.
New Alcoholic Clinic
To0ffer Rehabilitation
Without Pampering

The new alcoholic rehabilita-
tion program which will begin in
the District this month will not
pamper chronic drinkers. it was
disclosed last night by DR.. Leo
pold E. Wexburg, director of Bu-
reau of Mental Hygiene of the
District Health Department, who
will direct the program.
Instead, he said, the program
aims to accomplish three things:
To help the alcoholic stop
drinking: To give the alcoholic
the support he needs to keep
from drinking, and to rehabili-
tate the alcoholic morally, So
cially and Intellectually.
Detailed plans for operation of
the program have been COM
pleted, and will go into effect as
soon as renovation Of the Weight
man School, Twenty-third and
M streets NV. is completed and
the Personnel Board of the. Dis
trict clears with the Civil Service
Commission the positions neces-
sary to staff the clinic.
Washington's incidence of
chronic alcoholism is estimated
very high. According to Dr. E.
M. Jeller, director of the Re-
search Laboratory on Alcoholism,
there are probably 100000 chronic
alcoholics in the United States.
OF these. the share of the Dis
trict with its 100000 population
is about $500 or about $50 per
100000 population.
Difficult to Arouse Sympathy.
DR.. Wexberg said it is difficult
to arouse sympathy for victims
OF alcoholism. Their problems
have been considered both moral
and religious, but seldom social
problem.
The new alcoholic clinic will
receive most of its cases from the
courts. Those persons admitted
will receive all the medical care
necessary. DR.. Wexberg said. Each
person will undergo a psychiatric
treatment, including individual
and group therapy. There will be
facilities for occupational therapy.
and for the development of avo-
eational skills, interests and hob
bies. A recreational program. in
cluding hikes. outings, entertain
Inents and dances will be in
stituted.
His experience shows that most
chronic alcoholics are unhappy
and lonely people, DR.. Wexberg
said. Most of them have lost the
ability to enjoy companionship,
alay and fun. Every interest in
normal existence is wiped out and
eplaced with alcohol. Unless the
clinic succeeds in reviving in them
the sense of values they have lost
and their appreciation for the
better things in life, no rehabilita-
hon can be successful, he said.
Community Must Cooperate.
The program is bound to fail
without the cooperation and
understanding of the community
at large, DR.. Wexberg said. The
cooperation of special groups is
needed to help out, he said, es-
pecially of physicians, clergymen.
judges, social workers, nurses and
teachers.
Besides cases referred to the
Rehabilitation Clinic from the
courts. the clinic is prepared to
admit persons on a voluntary
basis" DR.. Wexberg said. In
fact, we wish that everyone Of our
admissions would come to the
clinic voluntarily from the begin
ming. For obvious reasons, the
man or woman who seeks help
from the program is more apt to
respond than persons sent by
court order" !
The clinic will lean heavily on
Alcoholics Anonymous, DR.. Wex-
berg said, because in the past that
organization has been of great
help in assisting alcoholics with
their spiritual approach.
The alcoholic clinic will be
established with funds from a tax
on liquor licenses, provided by the
TyoLov.f hill