Evening star., 1951-12-05

among those finishing their SEN
tences at the workhouse. A men,
ber of the clinic staff goes there
every week and interviews them.
Exhibit A is a house painter
who had 116 arrests. He got into
a schizmatic. if not heretical, po-
sition with Alcoholics Anonymous,
and while a patient at the clinic
founded FAFA-First Aid For
Alcoholics. He went back to work,
saved his money, bought a new
car and enjoys driving it past
the AA headquarters to show them
what FAFA can do for a man.
He has been arrested only once
in the past year.
A new drug has proved useful
tool in the work Of correcting
Observation-Disclosures di-
sulfide, marketed ION prescription
only as "Antabuse."
In 1948, two Danish physicians,
working on sulfides for a worm
killer, found that this form Of the
drug was effective in rabbits. As
to its effect on humans, both
decided to act as the guinea
pigs" Both took a dose.
Terrific Reaction to Drinks.
Several days later, at separate
parties, each took a few drinks.
The reaction was terrific. They
became sick. had to say good-by
quickly and get out. When they
compared notes. they realized they
had an anti-alcohol drug effective
several days after dosage. Eme-
tine hydrochloride, the drug for
merly used. was effective only at
the time it was swallowed. The
practice was to mix it with
whisky to build up an aversion
to the drink-a conditioned reflex.
DR.. Saul Zuckerman. jail physi-
clan. has been giving the drug to
inmates of the workhouse who are
recommended for the treatment
by the alcoholic clinic. All volun-
teer for the dosage.
They started the treatments on
April II Of this year. Since then.
SO have been treated. Thirty-eight
have returned since, but the rate
of their return has been slowed
down considerably from the usual
performance. And Is who took the
drug in the spring and summer
who have had plenty of time to
return-have not come back.
/ The drug is not a cure for alco-
holism. 1t enforces sobriety for a
time. 1t Is considered an aid to
Ipsychotherapy.
The staff Of the clinic does not
like to think the agency's function
lis primarily the substitution Of
medical and scientific treatment
for jail sentences, as outlined in
Section l Of the act creating it.
They prefer to think Of it as a
public health agency, ready to
help all who come to it volun-
tarily.
;. Difficulty in Statistics.
/ They work hard. and they like
their work, but they do not like
the preparation of statistics to
Justify the agency's existence,
They are more likely to tell you
the story Of a man who has been
helped and say. How are you 60
ing to make a statistic out of
Ihim?"
/ The clinic has not done well in
the matter Of public relations.
A citizens advisory board was
created by the act to help them
in this. DR.. Wexberg has been in
vited to attend their meetings,
but he has always had other en-
Igagements. The committee tried
to keep the clinic out of the
Health Department and its Bu-
Ireau Of Mental Hygiene before 1t
was established, and DR.. Wexberg
was head Of the bureau.
| It's a small matter, but as one
patient Of the clinic pointed out,
lin the telephone directory you
have to look under District
Government" then Health De-
lpartment." then Mental Hy-
giene" to find the listing of the
alcoholic clinic. When you scan
the A columns Of the telephone
book, you do not find the clinic
but several listings for Alcoholic
Anonymous groups. They find
them very helpful.
The clinic has not been very
\ successful in its relations with
Municipal Court. Only two of the
Judges. Judge Walter Casey, who
has been Ill Of late, and Judge
Nadine Gallagher. are interested
In the clinic. All the judges are
interested in the AA. They have
been sold" on the program. With
5000 members In the area, all of
the alcoholics, all on the wagon
with an occasional slip on the
fringe). and all of them willing
to help the alcoholic who wants
to quit drinking, the AA groups
seem to be the most effective force
brought to bear on the problem.
Liaison Misfires.
LiaiSon with the court Is not
effective. An old Marine, who had
been taking as large a dosage of
psychotherapy as he was capable
or absorbing. was doing fine in
the opinion Of his psychologist at
the clinic. He had a Job as al
gardener. After six months, he
had a slip and was given so days.
The judge never asked the clinic
how he was doing. He just looked
at the old record.
1t took lot of psychotherapyI
to get him over that humiliation, u
said the psychologists, "but he's
back at the same job again."
The clinic is spending $100, 900
a year-$75, 900 from a 10 per
cent increase on liquor licenses
and SOS, 900 from a backlog that
accumulated before It was set I'D.