March 1963

joyed to the point of intoxication, even though “hangovers” are suffered the next morning. As their Alcohol and Your Brain drinking continues, they are able to adapt to larger quantities of alcohol by R. G.Bell, M.D. and the hangovers become milder. There is a special group who be- predictable part of drinking. Morelieve they are among God’s chosen, over this change gradually but stead- An MD’s review of some of alcohol’s eflects they neither get sick while drinking ily appears to get worse. When talkon the mind and personality nor suffer from hangovers after- ing to drinking friends it can be wards. A false feeling of confidence summed up by the statement, “I can’t about ability to handle alcohol de- take it like I used to!” Somehow he velops. Years later, when they start can sense that there is no return to M OST of the readers of this magazine have personally and quite thoroughly explored this subject. produced that is truly impressive. The old expression “feeling no pain” didn’t occur by accident, even though to shake whenever they try to stop drinking, they are naturally sometrouble-free drinking, however much the admission hurts. Alcohol – the “mocking bird” there are better drugs for the pur- what confused. What we are saying, in effect, is The brain and nervous system, in conjunction with other parts of the among drugs – changes its effect pose. with the dose. For those who drink Finally, by “going all out,” a true this: some human brains can take body, can signal in another way that so slowly that they do not feel their L’anaestheti~” effect with uncon- much more anaesthetic than others. drinking is producing new trouble. drinks at all, admittedly a small sciousness is possible. This ether-like For a time a member of this group is Without alcohol, the drinker is so group, alcohol acts merely as a bev- result usually completes the chemical able to drink more than most without over-active, shaky and jumpy, that it erage with no drug effect. If they adventures with alcohol. Those who showing much effect. That high tol- becomes difficult to function. Each drink a little more or a little faster to explore the last step–the “breath- erance that remains for the first few day has to begin with a treatment of produce a slight rise in alcohol level, stopper” effect-won’t be reading years is actually a sign of danger this condition. Thus the morning they obtain a “tranquilizer” effect. this anyway. rather than of safety, if they only drink becomes a daily ritual. At Some authorities still maintain that, Drinking to “feel your drinks” is knew it. When a person begins con- work, more ingenuity is required to I sistently to be affected by less alco- hide the smell of alcohol and appear , in spite of all of its dangers, alcohol drinking for a drug effect. Unfortuhol, or to be affected in a new way, busy than was ever required for the is.both the oldest and the safest of the nately millions have found out the tranquilizers. so that friends comment on the job itself. When the stomach gives hard way that this kind of drinking By drinking still faster, the drug change-he is no longer the same out, or the home situation erupts into cannot be carried on indefinitely with effect is increased to the “sedative” kind of person when he drinks- open warfare, it becomes necessary safety. to go through an abstinence reaction level. Although dangerous, the seda- that person’s brain begins to signal How do the brain and alcohol get for a few days and “shake it out.” Retive dose is very popular since it re- along in the beginning? From the that it can no longer cope with alcohol in the old way. peat this often enough and hallucinaduces tension, lowers inhibitions and very start of drinking, or soon there- This change may include memory tions, convulsions or delerium can generally makes one “feel good.” For after, many find it possible to get lapses or blackouts. Again the black- be added to the “shakes.” many, these assets outweigh the lia- “high” without getting sick. That segouts may exist with or without a Dr. What about the chronic drinkerbility of disturbed judgment. ment of the public who consistently Alcohol can do much more than Jekyll-Mr. Hyde change in person- the one who is able to drink a bottle get sick before they get high are not this. By exploring still higher levels, regular readers of this magazine. ality. Whatever form the change a day for years without getting into a “painkiller-Zombie” result can be takes, the drinker begins to realize serious trouble? In that case the Some find that drinking can be enthat it is permanent. It has become a brain and nervous system may suffer

their physical tolerance are never in forced onto the defensive. Although harmony. Larger and larger quanti- they have begun to appreciate that in another way altogether. There cohol is not through medical pre- ties must be used. During this early alcohol is now controlling them, they may be difficulty in remembering scription. AIcohol is used in the com- happy period there is naturally a lot hate to admit it, even to themselves. names and places, impairment in munity for a great variety of personal of thinking about alcohol, since it has This leads to a special kind of thinkconcentration, an inability to focus or social reasons, and its first contact acquired more significance than any- ing characterized by alibis, lying, attention on one problem for very is usually determined by the particu- thing else swallowed. This period in cover-up, resentment, suspicion, long at a time. Burning and tingling lar type of drinking in that com- their lives, in which it is possible to blaming others, solitary drinking, in the feet and hands, or some im- munity. For example, if a family has drink as much as they want without protecting supply, and so on. Thus pairment in vision is often experi- very strict rules about drinking, con- serious physical or social repercus- still more of the mind becomes ocenced. Some people even acquire a siders drinking immoral, guilt may sions, might be thought of as the cupied with thoughts of drinking or peculiar kind of squint. These are become part of a reaction to alcohol, “phase of contentment.” It comes to in defense of it. A steadily diminishwarning signs that malnutrition ac- from the first. a close with either the first physical ing amount of attention can be given companies the chronic excessive use Whether or not trouble from warnings, such as blackouts, the to home, job and community responof alcohol and produces its own dis- drinking develops is largely determ- morning drink, liver disease, or by sibilities. A progressive loss of meneases. ined by how many uses for alcohol the first signs of trouble at home, on tal freedom is experienced as minds So far we have considered some of are found. The dependent drinker is the job or with the police. From now become increasingly dominated by the more common changes in the pleased that alcohol is so readily on reasons for drinking increase but alcoholic thinking. In this phase the brain produced by repeated intoxica- available and that his personal re- ability to drink declines. need for alcohol is so overwhelming tion from drug doses of alcohol or the quirements can be at least partially These early drinking problems in- that the thought of no alcohol proaccompanying malnutrition. (The met by social drinking occasions. troduce the “phase of concern” with duces more alarm than the danger of additional changes in liver, stomach Those who continue drinking harm- a new element of worry added to the continued drinking. and pancreas are not discussed in ful quantities of alcohol do so be- reasons for thinking about alcohol. Finally something occurs to make this article.) This is only a small part cause they like the effects produced A determination to find a new way it temporarily less threatening, or of the whole story. No discussion of by these quantities. Used in this way, to carry on drinking without trouble more rewarding, to stop drinking the brain and alcohol is complete un- alcohol does things for them that are poses a challenge to resourcefulness than to continue. It becomes imporless we also consider the phases in unique; nothing else that is swal- and ingenuity–drinking away from tant to look for a new way of living thinking throughout the whole ex- lowed provides such a welcome home, changing brands, mixers, and that will not involve slavery to a drug. perience of dependent drinking. change in feeling-a temporary solu- the location, frequency, duration and With the first indication of a break Before anyone has a first drink, tion to such varied conditions as regularity of drinking. Thus the in the system of alibis the defensive alcohol is just a word with a meaning worry, frustration, shyness, loneli- , “phase of concern” is one in which drinker takes the first step on the largely determined by the attitude ness and boredom. many changes in personal drinking road to recovery. He moves from and experience of the family. Since A small group who use alcohol for . . habits are explored. The fact that the “phase of defensive thinking” to there is no personal knowledge of al- its drug effects are unable from the ‘ permanent abstinence is not con- the “phase of acceptance or surrencohol, the mind is not occupied with very start to drink as much as they sidered a solution at that time high- der.” Unable to see a way out by his thoughts of what it might do. Unlike want without getting into some kind lights the power of an unhealthy de- own efforts, he may, if he is one of most drugs, the first contact with al- of trouble. Their need for alcohol and pendence on alcohol. the lucky ones, prepare to look for Since both physical and social help. problems continue to get worse, in If he chooses this path, his thinkspite of elaborate efforts to discover ing moves into the “vhase of rea safe way to drink, these people are covery.” Thoughts ab&t alcohol do

not stop simply because drinking of need he does not depend on alcostops. The mind which has been oc- hol for its tranquilizing, sedative, cupied with such thoughts for many pain-killer or anaesthetic effect; neiyears cannot change so quickly. In ther does he seek any other substance the early stages of recovery it is often that can produce these effects. Turnnecessary to be one’s own mental ing his back on this method, he repoliceman-to be on guard that the places it by looking to others, to his thought of drinking does not lead to own unused abilities and to a power the act of drinking. New methods of greater than people altogether, when solving problems or alleviating un- he needs help. As this process develpeasant feelings must be found. Dur- ops and produces its own rewards, ing recovery he comes to realize that there is more and more freedom from new living involves more than simply alcoholic thinking. Finally, alcohol is not drinking or swallowing some- again only a word, but a word with thing else whenever a change in feel- all the additional meaning from proing is desired. He learns that in time longed and varied experience.