Alcoholics and God by Morris Markey

Is there hope for habitual drunkards? A cure that borders on the miraculous–and it works!

For twenty-five or thirty cents we buy a totally uncontrollable desire for a drink. And after glass of fluid which is pleasant to the taste, and that first drink, for deluge. which contains within its small measure a store Now these people are genuinely sick. of warmth and good-fellowship and stimulation, The liquor habit with them is not a vice. It is a of release from momentary cares and anxieties. specific illness of body and mind, and should be That would be a drink of whisky, of course– treated as such. whisky, which is one of Nature’s most generous By far the most successful cure is that gifts to man, and at the same time one of his used by the hospital whose head doctor I most elusive problems. It is a problem because, quoted. There is nothing secret about it. It has like many of his greatest benefits, man does not the endorsement of the medical profession. It is, quite know how to control it. fundamentally, a process of dehydration: of Many experiments have been made, the removing harmful toxins from all parts of the most spectacular being the queer nightmare body faster than Nature could accomplish it. prohibition, which left such deep scars upon the Within five or six days, two weeks at the morals and the manners of our nation. Millions maximum, the patient’s body is utterly free from of dollars have been spent by philanthropists alcoholic poisons. Which means that the and crusaders to spread the doctrine of physical craving is completely cured, because temperance. In our time, the most responsible of the body cries out for alcohol only when alcohol the distillers are urging us to use their wares is already there. The patient has no feeling of sensibly, without excess. revulsion toward whisky. He simply is not But to a certain limited number of our interested in it. He has recovered. But wait. How countrymen neither prohibition nor wise permanent is his recovery? admonishments have any meaning, because Our doctor says this: “Though the they are helpless when it comes to obeying aggregate of full recoveries through physical and them. I speak of the true alcoholics, and before psychiatric effort is considerable, we doctors going any further I had best explain what the must admit that we have made little impression term means. upon the problem as a whole. For there are For a medical definition of the term, I many types which do not respond to the quote an eminent doctor who has spent twenty- psychological approach. five years treating such people in a highly “I do not believe that true alcoholism is regarded private hospital: entirely a matter of individual mental control. I “We believe . . . that the action of alcohol have had many men who had, for example, in chronic alcoholics is a manifestation of an worked for a period of months on some business allergy–that the phenomenon of craving is deal which was to be settled on a certain limited to this class and never occurs in the date. . . . For reasons they could not afterward average temperate drinker. These allergic types explain, they took a drink a day or two prior to can never safely use alcohol in any form at all.” the date . . . and the important engagement was They are, he goes on, touched with not even kept. These men were not drinking to physical and mental quirks which prevent them escape. They were drinking to overcome a from controlling their own actions. They suffer craving beyond their mental control. from what some doctors call a “compulsion “The classification of alcoholics is most neurosis.” They know liquor is bad for them, but difficult. There are, of course, the psychopaths periodically, they are driven by a violent and who are emotionally unstable.

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. . . They are over-remorseful and make many “Why, you’re the last man . . .” resolutions–but never a decision. “Sure. I know all that. But I’ve got it. And “There is the type who is unwilling to I know I’m cured of this drinking business for admit that he cannot take a drink just like the good.” rest of the boys. He does tricks with his He talked with great intensity for a while drinking–changing his brand, or drinking only and then said, “Listen, doc. I’ve got to see some after meals, or changing his companions. None other patient–one that is about to be dismissed.” of this helps him strengthen his control and be The doctor demurred. It all sounded a like other people. Then there are types entirely trifle fanatical. But finally he consented. And thus normal in every respect except in the effect was born the movement which is now flourishing which alcohol has upon them. . . . with almost sensational success as “Alcoholics “All these, and many others, have one Anonymous.” symptom in common: They cannot start drinking Here is how it works: without developing the phenomenon of craving. . Every member of the group–which is to . . The only relief we have to suggest is say every person who has been saved–is under complete abstinence from alcohol.” obligation to carry on the work, to save other But are these unfortunate people really men. That, indeed, is a fundamental part of his capable, mentally, of abstaining completely? own mental cure. He gains strength and Their bodies may be cured of craving. Can their confidence by active work with other victims. minds be cured? Can they be rid of the deadly He finds his subject among “compulsion neurosis”? acquaintances, at a “cure” institution, or perhaps Among physicians the general opinion by making inquiry of a preacher, a priest, or a seems to be that chronic alcoholics are doomed. doctor. He begins his talk with his new But wait! acquaintance by telling him the true nature of his Within the last four years, evidence has disease and how remote are his chances for appeared which has startled hard-boiled medical permanent cure. men by proving that the compulsion neurosis When he has convinced the man that he can be entirely eliminated. Perhaps you are one is a true alcoholic and must never drink again, of those cynical people who will turn away when he continues: I say that the root of this new discovery is “You had better admit that this thing is religion. But be patient for a moment. beyond your own control. You’ve tried to solve it About three years ago a man appeared by yourself, and you have failed. All right. Why at the hospital in New York of which our doctor not put the whole thing into the hands of is head physician. It was his third “cure.” Since Somebody Else?” his first visit he had lost his job, his friends, his Even though the man might be an atheist health, and his self-respect. He was now living or agnostic, he will almost always admit that on the earnings of his wife. there is some sort of force operating in the He had tired every method he could find world–some cosmic power weaving a design. to cure his disease: had read all the great And his new friend will say: philosophers and psychologists. He had tried “I don’t care what you call this Somebody religion but he simply could not accept it. It Else. We call it God. But whatever you want to could not seem real and personal to him. call it, you had better put yourself into its hands. He went through the cure as usual, and Just admit you’re licked, and say, ‘Here I am, came out of it in very low spirits. He was lying in Somebody Else. Take care of this thing for me.“’ bed, emptied of vitality and thought, when The new subject will generally consent to suddenly, a strange and totally unexpected thrill attend one of the weekly meetings of the went through his body and mind. He called out movement. for the doctor. When the doctor came in, the He will find twenty-five or thirty ex-drunks man looked up at him and grinned. gathered in somebody’s home for a pleasant “Well, doc,” he said, “my troubles are all evening. There are no sermons. The talk is gay over. I’ve got religion.” or serious as the mood strikes.

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The new candidate cannot avoid saying These men were experiencing a psychic to himself, “These birds are ex-drunks. And look change. Their so-called “compulsion neurosis” at them! They must have something. It sounds was being altered–transferred from liquor to kind of screwy, but whatever it is I wish to something else. Their psychological necessity to heaven I could get it too.” drink was being changed to a psychological One or another of the members keeps necessity to rescue their fellow victims from the working on him from day to day. And presently plight that made themselves so miserable. the miracle–But let me give you an example: I It is not a new idea. It is a powerful and sat down in a quiet room with Mr. B., a stockily effective working out of an old idea. We all know built man of fifty with a rather stem, intelligent that the alcoholic has an urge to share his face. troubles. Psychoanalysts use this urge. They “I’ll tell you what happened a year ago,” say to the alcoholic, in basic terms: “You can’t he said. “I was completely washed up. lick this yourself. Give me the problem–transfer Financially I was all right, because my money is the whole thing to me and let me take the whole in a trust fund. But I was a drunken bum of the responsibility.” But the psychoanalyst, being of worst sort. My family was almost crazy with my human clay, is not often a big enough man for incessant sprees. that job. The patient simply cannot generate “I took the cure in New York.” (At the enough confidence in him. But the patient can hospital we have mentioned.) “When I came out have enough confidence in God–once he has of it, the doctor suggested I go to one of these gone through the mystical experience of meetings the boys were holding. I just laughed. recognizing God. And upon that principle the My father was an atheist and had taught me to Alcoholic Foundation rests. be one. But the doctor kept saying it wouldn’t do The medical profession, in general, me any harm, and I went. accepts the principle as sound. “I sat around listening to the jabber. It “Alcoholics Anonymous” have consoliddidn’t register with me at all. I went home. But ated their activities in an organization called the the next week I found myself drawn to the Alcoholic Foundation. It is a nonprofit-making meeting. And again they worked on me while I enterprise. Nobody connected with it is paid a shook my head. I said, ‘It seems O.K. with you, penny. It is not a crusading movement. It boys, but I don’t even know your language. condemns neither liquor nor the liquor industry. Count me out.’ Its whole concern is with the rescue of allergic “Somebody said the Lord’s Prayer, and alcoholics, the small proportion of the population the meeting broke up. I walked three blocks to who must be cured or perish. It preaches no the subway station. Just as I was about to go particular religion and has no dogma, no rules. down ‘the stairs–bang!” He snapped his fingers Every man conceives God according to his own hard. “It happened! I don’t like that word miracle, lights. but that’s all I can call it. The lights in the street Groups have grown up in other cities. seemed to flare up. My feet seemed to leave the The affairs of the Foundation are managed by pavement. A kind of shiver went over me, and I three members of the movement and four burst out crying. prominent business and professional men, not “I went back to the house where we had alcoholics, who volunteered their services. met, and rang the bell, and Bill let me in. We talked until two o’clock in the morning. I haven’t The Foundation has lately published a touched a drop since, and I’ve set four other book, called Alcoholics Anonymous. And if fellows on the same road.” alcoholism is a problem in your family or among The doctor, a nonreligious man himself, your friends, I heartily recommend that you get was at first utterly astonished at the results that hold of a copy. It may very well help you to guide began to appear among his patients. But then a sick man–an allergic alcoholic–on the way to he put his knowledge of psychiatry and health and contentment. psychology to work. Source: Liberty, September 30, 1939.

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