Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-25

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in friendly drink. But for some,
elcohol eonnot remoin q pleasure
il becomes q poinfuI self-perpet.ot-
ing passion. The problem is old, but
mony elements in the eampoign
against Americas fourth greatest
health hozord ore new. The ehol-
lenge and response ore outlined in
the first Of q series OF five articles.
---
effort might be modified to
halt its devasting human, So
cial and economic losses.
But its root is alcohol, the
same alcohol that millions use
safely.
Doctors Call 1t Sickness
Doctors long have recognized
alcoholism as a real sickness.
The alcoholic simply cannot
drink normally. He, or she, falls
into the grip of alcoholic drink
for complex emotional and
physical reasons. Once there,
he's enslaved by alcohol, I'M
less he abandonS it completely.
Unsuspected alcohol in a
cough medicine triggered one
middle-aged man-"dry" for
many yearS-into an unwanted
alcoholic binge. Another was
seized by his old uncomfortable
urge to drink when he breathed
fumes on a warm day from
alcoholic antifreeze in an
automobile radiator.
Mankind has found COM
fort, conviviality, relief of
tensionS-and sometimes OBJ
livion-in alcohol since he first
learned some foodstuffs could
be fermented or distilled into
intoxicating beverages.
Down through history, a per-
centage of men, women and
even youngsters have fallen
victim to alcoholism.
Lack Of Moral Fiber
Society's historic reactions
toward control have been Jail,
ostraciSm, scorn, nagging, the
accusation it's all due to moral
weakness.
Prohibition has been tried,
and missed the mark.
Now there are encouraging
signs Of real progress:
l. Alcoholics Anonymous has
helped thousand stop their
drinking. completely.
2. Allied groups, Al-Anon
and Alateen, are helping wives,
husbands, children, and friends
understand the complexities of
alcoholism and to render eff
fective help. 1t inevitably be-
comes a family problem, says
Mrs. Marty Mann, executive
director of the National Coun-
Gil Of Alcoholism. She believes
it involves a majority of fam
lilies, If one includes cousins,
in-laws, the "entire constella-
ton" of a family.
EearIier Treatment
3. Alcoholics now are seek
ing treatment at an earlier age.
many in their late 20s or 30s,
compared with an average age
in the 40s and SOS a few years
back. Earlier treatment i'm
proves chances of success.
4. Physicians have a few
more helpful techniques of
treatment, and more under
standing, too. States have es-
tablished 158 clinics to treat
alcoholism.
5. Hidden alcoholics, eSpe-
cially women, are coming for
ward, recognizing their sick
ness, seeking help.
6. Industry and unions are
increasingly and successfully
dealing with alcoholism as a
sickness, not moral degeneracy.
But old attitudes still prevail
in many places, as represented
by one paper mill president
who declares "if anyone comes
to work with alcohol on his
breath, he doesn't last long. i
If he doesn't have judgment
enough not to abuse the liquor,
then that is his hard luck and
the quicker he's off the pay
roll, the better for the COM
pany."
Ratio Not Increasing
Z. National population is in
creaSing, but the number of
alcoholics per 100000 popula-
ton possibly is not increasing,
says Mark Keller, editor of the
authoritative quarterly Journal
for Studies of Alcohol. The
total actual number of alco-
holics seems to be less than
years ago according to es-
Inmates then.
8. And, says DR.. Ruth Fox,
medical director of the National
Council, alcoholism is not a