This Week. April 26. 1959

.-‘Ul\’i- TtrLt &4tr {‘}d f\f GT AN A{-Cm{-{OE-{C,

By JOHN BO|T MORST os fold to Arihur Gordon

li;rrrclro Sarrta ],-c, (_aiif. l’lr’;ls<‘tlr,rr’t rril rirt’ r’rrr rrrt rLrr alt’rlrorir.. yotr crrtlargcr rrry liic. ii vorr rlo. li _1,rrir 1rr,r.srr;Lrlr: rrrc to l;rlir:;r rlr.ink, ;;1,,rt,, , i.rr l.lrr, tlrir.,ls()nrc,,f irolit’rlislrrllrs lrl:tt.r,, ],orrr ;rrlnrissiorl 111.,1 ),otl ;u.c trrr ;rlco_ litll<: rirre,” I <.orrlrl rlic for it. y,,,,, Iri<,rrrls 1,”.,,t,r,, it is a tlrrcat to tlrci. .wrr rl’irrl,irrg lrrrlrits. ,,lf this lt,ll,*, is I-:irr rvriiirrg tlris ;rr.lir.l. lrc;rrrs<: I ;rrrr ;rrr :Llr..lr.lit., arr alc,lioiic,,, llrr’1′ 5;;q-y lo tlrt.rrrsr.lr,<,s rrnc;i.sily, ,,wlt;rt ,rrr. ,l- ilr.. rrrilli’rr irr tiris (‘()lrrl’v, ;rrrrl rvt,ll-rrrc;rrrirrg frit.rrrrs :tlrrrrrt rtre ?,, .llierr. is littlc lr,11ic ilr srrelr;t ,.,.,r,.tin,ri:’orrly orrr.rlr.irrl<er (,ut iiee i: telliirg,rc I’rrr rr.t. .,r\rr ;rlc.lr,iic ()f lI ? I ),r’t lu. ,iily ! N,,t ,r’ l(r lr<.(-()lrrt,s :rrr ;rlcr,lr,,lit.. Illrl I lr;rvr: lr:r<l tIrr, rlislir_rti rorr l” {irr1 s:i-t,. “Olr, rrurylre yotr rlirl rlrirrtr<;r little irn;rr-r’ssir.rri, (,1 nl;ur.y oc<.;rsiorrs, trur lrrrr,.lr, tlr:rl {lrc lx.rson lorrrllv ltsstlr_ lrttt yr;ii ry<‘r.c rrrrrlr:r;t l,t,r[ ])r(,ssllr(: tlrt.tr. .l’lr;rl,s rrll ,t(. llr:tl I r.,rrlrlrr’I lrr.trrr lrlt:oltrlit, w;rs all tru,.r, r.t,:rlly,.y;,’rf t,, rrorv. (.orltc orr, Iroy say rvlrclr l” r'(.;r.ssl ! r-(‘ lr ir rrsel f. i lravc liir,w, :rlcolr,rics, strrrggrirrg r, crirrrirr;Lre rtrc,rr.l frorrr lltr:ir livr:s, wlro <li,l p”r,1*..,,, rvlro rlirl ,,s;ry wlrcrr.,, . l\rrrl lirr;r’-r, ;rrt’.rr.lics ,[(r’rr rr;Lvr. t., fll<.r. strorrg ,1r,rrsif tiorr frorrr closr. r’t.l:rtivr.s rvlro [ct.l tlr;Ll ;ruy s111.1; lrai’c scr.rr llrc grinr tr;r1t oI arlrlit.tiolr t:losc r,rr il,,,r1 :rrllrtissio:r ag,rir,. will lrr.irg rlisgr.;rr.r, .r. rli5;1i111161,a1 ,P,rr tl*: farrrily. I lravr: sr.r’rr tltcrrr rlic of it. N,{ost rtlcolrolit:s rLr. ltecerrt!1, :L g,orl fricrr<l r,I rrrirrc rrierr .f arc.rrtrrisirr rtt trrc age.r 4.i:. I )rrt’tors [orrrrrl.lrr.r physical rlisalrilitics T’fJS ?’,$ffigd},ft#ptr wAEt{6fAS irrrlicatcrl sh<: hacl l)(‘(” il, ;rlc,lr.lic for :r great aral)y y.ars. lJec:ruse alcolroiisrrr is a f;rtal rlisc;rst:, if 1/ct six ,rotrtlis to rrrrr l,cfrlrc slrc rlicrl, Irer father tolrl int. irtrlr:rticntll, its course. It carr he arreste<J, if the vi<:tirn ‘llrwcrl stops rlrirrl<ing, tlurt slrc wasrr’t ;r, alcolrolic, an<l rrarrrerl rl’z.tr ,ro,,,., yrito lttrt it canr:ot l_rc crrrc,i I L.rrg ;rlrstirrcrrcc ,.,rr,i*.j, ;rl-,soirrt.f,, rirrrnk ^ !rer fricrrcrs rrrort: :rrrrl lx’lrav.rr f;tr wors. Ail ro dilTercncc. Arr alcoholic wlro lras rrr.rt touclrcd Iiquor fo’r Irrrrl ass.i’crl lrer lrr:rt she wasrr’t *n ar<l rerntio*s 2O.years is just as nruch arr alcolrolic as hc ever arc.irolic. Mrst o{ the,r was. .l.o still thinl< shc rlierr of heart {ailrrrr., ;r falserr.rlrl t,cll strclr rr I)erson tlrat lre <loesrr’t lrave arr irrt:rrr.alrlc that trie nclvsar.rrl fittal l)rrl )ers f:rit hfrrl l.y rccortlcd. rliscasc is ab.solute rrratrrress-anrt ail too oftcrr it i. .*n.-iif ‘l’lrc orrll,w:r.y;ur:Llcoholic r’.,hat tlrc victirn warrts to hcar. c:rrr lx,girr:r lir.ograrrr of rc_ (‘(,vcry is llrr.,rrglr r.<,c,grrilior*f hftrliorly errjoys rrrr ;rlr:.lrolic. Most ,f rrs rvlr, :r.e (),1 lris rlis.as”. ,l.l,is is never ir t’;rs-y sincr: :rrlrlil’1i,,1, irrv;rriarrr,, cirr.ri,,s l)rogr;r!r1 of recovcry.. ;rrrrl wc rel)rcsclrt rrrrly rr pitifrrl six rvirlr ir ,r..rily ter. rk’trcy to jrrstiiy, lo r;rtiururliz,i, t,,,lr.r,t,;rrr_vtiring ^ flurt or scvelr lrcrccnt of llrc str.icli., flvt,rrrilli.rr …h:Lvc sl rrrgglt.tl ririgllt lrlirrg’;rlxrrrt llrr,r.rrrl of rlrirrliirrg. ]1,.1;.,vr, to:r pai,ful acc(:flt;lrrc(: .f a st:trl< f;rt:t : Wr: ,,r,, rrrr:, I linow. I 1,llysiii,lty rlifferent in orir rt.;tt:tirxr to ;rlcolrol. We clrrrrrol rlrirrl<. u,<‘rrt llrr.t’rrrglr it rrrysclf. ( )rr ,rrr corrstlrrrt rec.grritiorr of rlris f:tct rlr:lrcrrrl .rrr. lr;rlrPircss, A 6R$S{ f{El{Ef”aArfffi,v orrr sanity, orrr Iives. Iirrt rvc ;rrr: lil,<: tiglrtr.olxr *ill,”rr, r;tte srrurll lruslr c:trr st’rrrl rrs lirrrtlirrg irrt. rlrr: rlt:ptlrs A trrrrrrlicr o[ 1,t,:trs;rgo, tlrr.r,r.l,t,olrlt: v(:1.\, (.1{)s(. lo rrrr, lrclow. lrrrrlrlt.rrr,. ,, I ,,1,t:,jr,,.,1 ,,,,,t l.,1r,,’l scclrrr.rl to lr:tvc ,ir inliinH Why arc well-irrt.lrti.r<.rl 1x,o1rlt: srrrrr.lirrr.s grriltv of giv_ l\l;t’t.y Nl;trrrr’s ” l,r.irrt,r Aic.lrr,irsrrr,, witli :r vi.rv .f irrg us tlris rrrsh ? tr lrt’irrg oI Ircllr. .Scver.;ti ‘rr l;rlcr., rrrl, (,wll (lrilti(ilrg _J,(,iu.s l.re_ trtt Ilrc first 1rl;rcc, ft-ir,rrrls wlro:rr.r: forrrl oI rrs rlolr.t It;Lvitrr w;rs-.srrllicit,rrlly rrlirrrrr.rrrrrl ,,,,,1 ,l,.,irr.,,rsirrg t, ,,,,,.k” rr.,* w,:rrrl tts to lic alcrilr.lics lrecarrsc of the stigrrr:r rlr;rt is still att:rclrc<l tlre lxxrk. I r.cr.t,.rl it. rrrrrl l,,ir,,,.”,,,i.,.lrrst ()rre to the lal-rel. Me<lical science has at lrtsr r;rgg.<t :rrcoholisrrr ‘r:c:rll N’I..re,” l,_y J:trrres l,arrrb I,’r-cc. Jt *,:rs lr gri,r r.xlrericrrcc. I for what it is: a tlisclrsc. 13rrt public olliniorr is slow to fol- lricrl-frarrtic;rlly lo rlorlgc. souglrt ..1 ,,.,””n* to llrovc lo,r,v. So, n,llen il frientl tr-ies to t<:ll _yorr llrat yorr’rc not:rrr llr:tl I wrrsrr’t :ur lrlc.lrolic. rrrrt “u”a.y wfls trre. evi<lenile too str,rg. alcolrolic, he tlrirrlis lre is <loirrg y,,,, a l i,,r.lncrr. Wlr:rt evirlcrrct.? Well, irt orre r,f lris clrrssic sttrdies, In tlre sccorrrl pllrt.t,, rrr:ury lltl,,Plt.slill havc a lixctl :rrrrl li. I\4. .f r:llirrcl< lists thc clurractcri.,ii..s rlisplal.c<i b1, the vic_[]r. stereotyl)e(l crrrrcepli’n .f rvlr;rl ;rrr ;rlt.r,lr,lic is :r lrrrrrra, lirrr .I alcr,lr.lisrrr irr trrrcc srccesslve st^gcs .-,f trre <lerclict o, skirl I(rrv, ,r’ , rrrirrt’_yr.rr rrt.’t,r.-rlo-wt.ll lirrrrIrislr- rriseasr.. J frirrrrrl tlr;tt rrurrry of thcse <rcsc’ipri,rrs a1r1,lit.rr l() itrg irr s,nrc irrstilrrti’rr. I [ 1′,r1 rr,rrr’t rrt irrto eitlrcr catego’y. ,lv lrcttavirl’. illrrck-rrrls. f,r ex:rrrrplr. .l.lresc’lrr.e ,,y;r,,,.i., ovy, lhey filirl it irrrlxrssilrk. l,, !rt.iilvr.\.,,u lr:rvr. lost vorrr.tolcr.atrt.t, i,,r’,,lvirrg loss oI nr(,nr()r.,],, arr<l slirlrri,t rrot lre t.,irrfrrsr.rl for alcohol. “lxrssing .rrr.” ‘l’lr.r. w(‘ro .r;rry witll {irr(,s wrr.rr I rv.trlrr pley

_-)

7

‘nT’he Atrcchctic**sickesr o$ l\{em,,

i;ritigc q*ite con:;.ltr.ently all c’errirrg, :rurl hrive little or ,o tlrt: :Llcolrrlir. rvlro slilrs arvay Iirst fronr a cocktaii rccolli’ciio:r of it tlre rrext day. ()rrcc I tlr.c..,ve 120 nrilcs {rorrr party, ,fit’rr ou tlre Jrr<‘ltxt that ire,,i:as lu.rk to rlo,,,but S;til lirancisco to rn_1.hoilig 1n j,r’lille llcaclr,:rncl r,l.oke rrp roho thril 1;r.rrs ho,re or to an .trt-of-trre-way bar an.r satisr’ies rir:l( ila,r.’r’rith rio e\!,a:-encss of lr;Lving niade strch a trip. his grirri, r:r,irilltrl.si r.’c necrl.

ii i’lli :l i: ;:,1i irS -rt ili?’,f Il tr f ,i i fl? ff $tr l )o:rt’ I.rc- lrrislcrl lry :r;rtreanrnces. M _y rvifc, V irg.inia, w!.ro tccovt.rurl Ir’orn:Llcolrr,lisrrr whcrr slrc rvits 29, l1’l ;,,n)’rrllrt:: si.r,lrtorrrs list.<l lry l)r. Iellirrt:l< ,./.rc l)r(.s(,!lI rrrrrl t’rrt.r’g<‘tic \1()ruiur. l,t,oirlc ruet:tirrg ltcr ;..j yotrtlrfuI irr *ry ririr:i<inr; lxritcrrr, althouglr, likc rrr;rrry zllc,lrrtlic.s, I for tlle fir-st tirrre r*riii,li,r gr.rccc.l,icrl ii: l<ce|iiri; tlierrr f’o* rrry fiitrrtls. S.cal<_ :trtrl lt’;tt’ttittg,,I ltcr clise;ise irrvaril16iy lrr: ;ur ;rlr:ol roiit.; l)t.()tcst,,.yo’ clrtr,l ir:r: riri;lLs, cv:rrsiverress;rlrrrut ririrrkirg !r:,i,its,.xccssivr rt:_ -v<)u look as healtlry ris a chil<l i” Sh. i, u,, ruorsc the nroiliing after-the siiprs r,”,<:l.t: ali too ;ric’lrr.rlic– ;rirri I’rk.s as yorrtlrftrl u. r,,y victi.r,I lriairr. thc riisees: I rvlrr> lras lrcrr lilr:ssc<l rvitLr an e,rrly ,,,.<rve.1,. v;;rs s{ill i’e:.r..; frr;itr Sltir! jtow, iriri I rv;tr; ()r) ir)y rvay. I rlirirr’t lerir lilie a, iilcolrciic, arrd I ollvir:trsly <litin;t act like Alcolxrtrics Arrorr-yllrotrs leaves statisiics to the niedical rtttt- -ir’.i’; i,irel 1 finaily tles;cribed rny syrnptorris to a <Ioctor., ;rrrtlroritit:s ;rrr<l tlr<: rcscarclt fir()ul)s, lrtrt it is a generally Ire ccr.rf;rri’itd nly fea,rs–I rivas onc I ;rct’cptcrl fact tlr:tt irr the lrcgiunirr6l, sonrc Z+ ilr* ;rv(‘rilII(: irgc oI AA rrrcrullers lVas .5{),r. rr.,”,.,,i”nru-ug”, . i rerrie*r’uer vei’y ‘reil thc reaction alrror)g srrrre ,f rry closl:i f i’ie lrrls. lt r’,’as crrrl-‘f-thc-lirlers wcre t!rougrrt to r^: atcorroiics. l,,,oouJo nr,!y ai’r.st violcnt : rlcrisi,,, dclri;ri, thlrrrlis l;rr1gt’ly t, tlre rc,r:rrl.:ablc <:ritrcatiorurr Tocr*;i, ;111r;cir enllle:;s prc,{ th*t I cotild n,t bc a, alcrlrolic. Sooth- rvork of tiie N;tti,rr;rl C<lr,rcil orr Alcolrolis’r, iri;.1, l.,,,xtkrfili rvorr!s to a rnan wlro cravcs a <lrink I Wt,l_ ),ounger 1tc.1rlc ar c joi*ia[ corrre jirstification fcr starting all over again ! irr v:rri.us l)rogrirnrs .f recovery, Mo*t ,ie*co’rers to AA rrulvadays rarigc frour tcen-agers to I [:*crv tliat these reactiors lvere lr.se<l o, ig*orarcc ltersons irr their 20,s, 30’s or 40’s. ‘l’hey a.e recogirizing tlie tliseas<r ‘orv concepticns of what an aicoh,rlic is arrri how the riis_ sc.r.ly. -.false ease’r,vcrlts. hlobody knows all about alcoliolisnr;even to r$*g 8&rMfsf&d,6 &.f6v# tlre cxperts, scnre aspects of it renrain a rnystery. Let trre ‘l’lris lrrirrgs rrt: t’ . orre last recorrr*rerrrlation. s,,letinles try to dispel a few of the nrajor rnisconccptions. llr.c yorrng rccovcrerr arcorroric is torrr trrat rre nrust ‘l’o beg:,:r v,.i’ih, rravc had Please don’t c,ltsirler tlrr: *lcoholic * r,oral :r liglrt case since it didn’t progress very far, lur<l that surely rvc;rkli*g. A,ctually, he *iay irave rrror.e rvili hc rrrust lrt’:rlrle to talie tittte winc ir. rrcer.. In lxrrver th;rrr you trre {it’st !rave. Iltrt he is ill–the sickest of lrrrrr. plrtce, thcre is uo srrch thing ” as a,,liglrr'” carre. .l.he alcoh*lic Ne;lt, qlon’t linrit 1,our ltrerital picttir.t. of ;r. alcrtholic t. rvlr. cLosscs tlrr: irrvisiblc rirrc is_.an-tl ,viir ic.rain-_an a.rccrthe <lcrelict i, tlrc last stages of thc tlisr,;rst:. ,l’hcre !ies tlrr: lrolic;rll his lifc. Anrl therc is rro srrclr tlring as a partiai rl*r-t:lict i’tlle guiter, cloge to irrsarrit,y or.rleatlr. IIas hc jrrst ;tlc,ltolic: cillr.r y()u arc ()re ()r yorr,re nr.;t. l, thc sccor:rl l;ect)rrre arr a!cr,lrolic ? !\/lls it lil,e ycars ago *1,.,, lrl;rcr:, it rLrt’srr’t,r;rtt*r rvrrcther tli. f;rt:rr rlri'[< is r,virr., fierr, ‘ecerrtiy l(X)-1rr.’f l;rJr,.lrorr- .,or frlr. llr:rt r,;Ltttr a co,.rglr syr’p Irc ircc;rrre a r!is!lu,aslrcr? Was it t..r, u,ith _y.,ais ago rvlrcrr lris ;ttr;rlc,lr.l b:rsc. lt is thc alcrlrol tlr;rt <l,es ti,c anruege, i* v,’ife divorccd hinr ? W;rs it l5 1,c:u.s ,,g,, ,ul,.i, lrc lost lris lran!< jol;? Was it 2{).yc:rrs ago n,lrcrr lre tir.st began ;rlry {or nr. srrcak_ ing his rlrirrLs to rrr;tl<t::iure of “gettirrg lris shar.tj?” Was it 25 year.s ago rvllerr he ha,l his first lrlaciirrrrts ? ‘l’orllry scicncr: ,lx: So lrir:;rsc.tr.-v.ro rrcrp rrs. liccorrrrrrcurl to trrose wlro rnay pr’lrk’rrr rl’irrl<crs th;rt trrey writr, t. trre National krrorors tllat ile ltccanre alr alcoholic lrt lrirst 2.5 ,lr Alc.lr,lis,r irr New Y,ri or t,rrc .f itu .i5 .o,nn*rnity co*’cil 1,ears lxrcl<_ :lrrrt that ire wa-q just as rnuclr arr alcnlr,lic therr as lre is u,w. c,rnrnritle_cs llrrorrgluxrt tlre corrntry, or t:ull i\’1 rr.ty Mrtrrr’s “l)r-irrer lA. Or rcai Try to rernernber that alcol.rolisrn is arr icelrcrg rlise:rsc__ ., Alcolrtiis.l,’, or Janres I;rmb the synrptonrs are largeiy hidden, at lirst. lrr fi..ct, durirrg lirt:c’s “J ust Orrc Mort–.’, ihe”,{rst five or ten 1,s3ps of their arl<lictiorr, lrlcolrr,lics gcrr_ llrrt rl,u’t tcll tlr.r, th;it tlrt:y’re rrot- arcol.rolics. 1f yo* arc crally take great care to aplrear ;rs rxrrrrral gocial rlrirrkcrs. wr()ul{ :rrrrl tlrc,y lrelieve yorr, they nray die. It is the lieavy drinker or occasiorral rlrurrk rvl:o rrrisllehaves. It is the alcol.:olic wlto apparer:tly re,rain.s s.lrer. IJrrt it is *rrs v,fEEK n “””,,,1″f;f#,#Yr,g