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Show What You Can Do to Combat Alcoholism Some 10 years ago it was generally accepted that alcoholism was a moral issue. Today, with more understanding of alcoholism, alco-holism, more is being done to help alcoholics medically, psychi-atrically, psychi-atrically, institutionally, spiritually and socially. What you might do is learn all you can about the disease, so you can recognize a problem drinker, so you can counsel him, so you know where to guide him for help. Information unbiased and unexaggerated is available at National Council of Alcoholism, 2 East 103rd Street, New York 29, N. Y. This is a national, voluntary health organization, founded in 1944. It is not prohibitionist. Its concern is with the prevention of alcoholism, a disease. The N.C.A. combats alcoholism through public and professional pro-fessional education, community services, guidance to the alcoholic and his family, and research. Committees on Alcoholism, set up in communities throughout the country, maintain centers where information and guidance can be obtained. The N.C.A. even supplies information and personal direction on how to go about getting up such a committee. Another organization that will give help is Alcoholics Anonymous, Anon-ymous, which has 4500 units in the United States and Canada. More than 30 states and many individual communities provide information and therapy. Many business firms, working with N.C.A. are helping to establish alcoholism programs and are making use of available facilities. The Salvation Army, too, has had a successful record in helping alcoholics. An alcoholic can recover. He will never be able to drink again, but he can lead a normal, happy and healthy life, without alcohol. You don't help an alcoholic by nagging, scolding, moralizing, moraliz-ing, or making empty threats, but getting an alcoholic to professional pro-fessional assistance can be an important step toward his recovery. |