Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-04

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81. 1857. it was reported that
Commissioner David Karrick
had objected to my describing
D. C. as the alcoholic capital
Of the world" l did describe
d. c. in these words in an adj
dress on January %. and !
did so on the basis of what I
believed to be valid evidence.
The intent of my remark was
certainly not to malign our
Capital. but to emphasize the
tragic proportions Of the prob
lem of alcoholism in all urban
areas, of which D. c. is per-
hapS a symbol. trust that the
truth which many have stated
and which I was attempting to
underline will not be forgot
ten amid the smoke and claims
and counterclaims.
The Yale University studies
which Commissioner Karrick
quoted from the Quarterly
Journal Of Studies Oh Alco-
hob. show that 1872 out of
every hundred adult males and
% out Of every hundred adult
females in the District Of CO.
lumbia suffer from the sick
ness OF alcoholism in various
stages tSee Page COS. Deem
Der. 1855. issue Of the Quar-
terly Journal mentioned
above.) The overall rate for
y. c. is 7.3 out Of every hun
dred adults. l am sure that
Commissioner Karrick Will
agree that. if these figures are
accurate, there is no room for
self-congratulation that D. c.
is not as bad of as several
other cities.
Out OF the IL largest cities
(aecording to adult popula-
tom in our country, Washing
ton is fifth from the top. Four.
IS Commissioner Karrick has
stated. have higher rates.
Seven have lower. though sew
eral are fairly close 10 WASH
inaton.
AS to my statement that
d. c. is the alcoholic capital
Of the world" l believe that
Commissioner Karrick's point
Is well taken. There is, how
ever, certain ambiguity as to
how d. c. should be compared
with other geographic and po-
litical areas of our country.
If am not mistaken. d. C. is
often compared with the States
in discussions Of various social
problems. This is true Of sci
entific articles on the problem
OF alcoholism. In the article
from which Commissioner
KaTick and ! both quoted,
the ID. G. is so listed in two
tables and its rank order with
the States is given. A foot
note in the article says. For
convenience in comparisons
and discussion, the District Of
Columbia is included. and
treated as a State also in
rank-order columns. / was
following this precedent from
the scientific literature in the
field Of alcoholism. in making
the statement / did. II one
follows this precedent. d. c.
is first in its rate of alcohol
ism. However, upon consid-
Grafton of Commissioner Kar-
ricks statement and the sta
tisficS concerning alcoholism
in the II largest cities (which
] did not have when / pre-
pared my address,, / tend to
agree with Commissioner Kar-
rick rather than with the prec-
edent, that the more meaning
ful comparison is with the ma
jor cities.
Concerning Commissioner
Karrick criticisms of ny state
ment that our country has the
highest rate of alcoholism of
any country for which figures
are available, / have this TO
say: II is true, as he pointed
out. that France, Chile and
Switzerland have higher rates
Of alcoholism with physiologi-
cal and psychological compile
cations de. Chronic alco-
holism". But IL is total alco-
holes, not Just alcoholics with
complications. who constitute
the public health problem. And
IN total alcoholics. our country
is Ga per cent ahead of France
which is next in order. True.
the figures for the various
countries are not for parallel
years IN many eases, but they
at least give on indication of
the relative rates.
The District of Columbia is
10 be commended on the ex-
cC'lent work that is beng
done IL helping alcoholics
through its Alcoholic Rehabili-
tation Program. And, of course,
"A is doing outstanding work
in ID. c., as it is in all areas
Of our country. These sue