The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-04-06
DRIN HABIT is
PUT UNDER HEAD
OF DISEASE NOW

OIlIy ISCChLAJ A1S ANNA VA Wi
lima come to recognize the "town
drunk" as a sick man-sick and
anxious, afraid and helpless UNI
der an illness now called alcohol
ism.
No longer is he the "town sot."
No longer is his Saturday hinge a
total loss of character. Today he
is an alcoholic, one among thous-
ands suffering acutely or chroni-
cally from a subtle, insidious i'll
ness as old as man and plant life
and the natural phenomenon of
fermentation.
People who accept and treat al
coholics for the specific illness Of
alcoholism are Twentieth Century
pioneers. DIR. Charles Settler, Jr.,
Director of st. Luke's Hospital in
Philadelphia and one of those pio-
neers, recently told the NC. AL
coholic Rehabilitation Program
that "the assumption of financial
responsibility is a cardinal prin-
ciple in the recovery program of
the alcoholic"
That's the catch-assumption of
financial responsibilities pay
bills long neglected, to clear debts
long forgotten-to make man
new in pride. in hope-to give a
man strength to do, to become, to
know fresh citizenship, to be a
part of a prosperous community,
and by being a part, to add to that
very prosperity-that's the catch
assumption of financial respon-
sibility.
Who will trust former "drun-
kard ?" Who will hire an alcoholic,
even though his illness is arrested
like that of the tubercular or the
diabetic? Who will rise above the
stigma of his reputation ruthless
ly, unfairly alive like that of the
criminal?
A basic cause Of alcoholism is
the gnawing anxiety that crawls
through the being of a man with
out a job. Eminent physicians IA
miliar with alcoholism readily
agree that the feeling of insecur-
ity is major factor in problem
drinking. What insecurity is
greater than unemployment?
Because of that fact, S. X. Proc
tor, executive director of the N
C. Alcoholic Rehabilitation Pro.
gram, is currently urging com.
munity leaders to help secure EN-,
pIoyment for some of the patient:
that complete the monthly treat
ment at the Butner Rehabilitation
Center.
| Typical of letters received from
Butner patients now in their home
communities are three remarks
81 believe with all my heart that
God is behind these places like
Butner for an alcoholic has suffer.
ed so much and been kicked
around so much . my only prob
lem now is finding employment
if l could get fixed up on po-
sition l feel 1 will be all right"
The ratio is relatively light
Many of the men are employed
are undergoing the voluntary
treatment to insure continued en-
ployment. Though some Of the
other sufferers stumbled wretch
eddy before reaching Butner, they
are worthy of another chance
They were sick, they sought help
and they received it. Their treat.
ment is not over. Their new look
upon society will depend greatly
upon society's new look upor
them.
That's the catch
Shall they be given the chance
to prove that financial response
bility is a cardinal principle ir
their recovery program"
/ Shall they be able to say with
Alcoholics Anonymous, eve dc
not dodge our creditors ?"
They shalI-if they are directed
! to jobs worth taking, worth keep
ing.