QAAD an independent Quaker charity since 1852

QAADRANT No 78 Summer 2015 Quaker Action on Alcohol & Drugs

‘Restless, Irritable and Discontented’ – and recovery pages 2-3

QAAD at Yearly Meeting page 4

Women and alcohol a perspective pages 6-7

1 known as AA’s ‘Twelve Steps’ after review reach of recovery, our debt is quite beyond by 100 recovering alcoholics and 300 non- calculation or repayment.” (The Language of Restless, Irritable and alcoholics. Bill Wilson gave credit to his own the Heart © 1988, pages 297-298.) doctor, Dr. Silkworth for Step 1: It is one alcoholic talking to another as Discontented 1. We admitted we were powerless over equals that makes AA unique. There are Dan, a member of AA and a Quaker, receptors also links with, and may underlie, alcohol—that our lives had become no gurus, experts, ministers, supervision shares his insights the ‘restless, irritable and discontented’ unmanageable. or government of any kind. There is only feelings that Silkwood describes, which I feel one alcoholic sharing his or her experience, (Dr. Silkworth had confirmed to Bill that My name is Dan and I am an alcoholic. I were at the root of my . I consider strength and hope with other alcoholics that medical science could do nothing for him, have come to the view that alcohol did not myself as having inherited this condition is the foundation for our ‘daily reprieve that he need a personality change to stay itself ‘cause’ my alcoholism. I grew up in from both my mother’s side (her father died (from alcoholism) based on the maintenance sober.) beautiful circumstances, was quite successful of cirrhosis of the liver) and my father’s side of our spiritual condition.’ in school, and was not attracted to alcohol (his brother died of bleeding ulcers caused And Bill gave credit to psychologist William I went to my first AA meeting on Pearl for the first 24 years of my life. However, by a lifetime of drinking alcohol). By joining James for Step 12: Harbor Day 1976 and took my last drink starting in my university days and the first AA, I have been able to successfully treat the 12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the the next day. I am now sober in AA over three years thereafter, I became increasingly condition in me, ‘one day at a time’ for over result of these steps, we tried to carry this half my life. I also draw spiritual sustenance ‘restless, irritable and discontented’ and 38 years. message to alcoholics, and to practice these from two other movements started by people slowly turned to alcohol to give me the sense What became (AA) principles in all our affairs. who were dissatisfied, who were in some of ease in life that I thought others had. started on 10 June 1935 when the other Ebby had given Bill Wilson a copy of James’ manner ‘restless, irritable and discontented’: The quotation comes from Dr. William man credited with co-founding AA, Dr. “The Varieties of Religious Experience” Médecins Sans Frontières started 44 years Duncan Silkworth M.D., who treated Robert Holbrook Smith, M.D. (known as which stated that to recover, a mentally ago by medical doctors and journalists in 1 thousands of alcoholics at Towns Hospital Dr. Bob) took his last drink in Akron, Ohio depressive person needs a spiritual France dissatisfied with how humanitarian in New York City, including William two months after he and Bill Wilson were awakening. Famous psychoanalyst Carl movements at the time were treating victims Griffith Wilson (known as Bill W.), one of introduced to each other. Six months earlier, Jung later confirmed in letters to Bill Wilson of war, disease and natural catastrophe, and the two men credited with co-founding the in November 1934, a former drinking buddy that medical science is powerless over the started 365 years ago by people movement 80 years ago that became known of Bill’s, Edwin “Ebby” Throckmorton alcoholism, that a spiritual experience is an in England dissatisfied with religion and as Alcoholics Anonymous. In the past two Thacher had visited Bill hospitalized for alcoholic’s only recourse. government at the time. to three decades, modern medicine has his fourth and last time at Towns Hospital All three movements…AA, MSF, and the cast light on Dr. Silkworth’s analysis with in New York City. Ebby, who had become Where does AA come in? Quakers…provide me communities of like- research tools not available to him. a raging alcoholic, had stopped drinking Well, as Bill Wilson wrote when AA was 20 minded people that help me to be honest with through the spirituality of the Oxford Groups, The neurotransmitter dopamine (sometimes years old, “…it was not until I met Dr. Bob myself, to discover my skills, talents, and a Christian revivalist movement in the U.S. known as the ‘reward pathway’ because (in May 1935) that I knew that I needed him motivation, and to be of service to others. then led by Rev. Sam Shoemaker of Calvary it is involved in feelings of pleasure and as much as he could ever need me. This was And for that I am grateful. Episcopal Church in New York City. satisfaction) is activated when alcohol and perfect mutuality, this was full brotherhood. This was the crucial and the final answer. [1] Editors’ note – see, for example, Striatal D2 dopamine other drugs are taken. Studies indicate The movement preached four principles for receptor binding characteristics in vivo in patients with alcohol alcoholics often have lower levels of ‘D2’ ‘release from hopelessness’: self-survey, The missing link was then fully forged and dependence. Hietala J1, West C, Syvälahti E, Någren K, Lehikoinen P, Sonninen P, Ruotsalainen U. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1994 receptors for dopamine, which it is now restitution, outgoing helpfulness to others, somehow we knew this at once….To those Nov;116(3):285-90. thought to be a factor in their increased and prayer. These principles were adapted wonderful friends (such as Dr. Silkworth, alcohol intake.[1] The interesting thing to me and expanded upon in Steps 2 through 11 Rev. Shoemaker, William James, and others) is how this chemical evidence of fewer D2 drafted by Bill Wilson in what became who thus brought Dr. Bob and me within

2 3 Faith and commitment… NEWSUPDATE NEWSUPDATE NEWSUPDATE NEWSUPDATE Serendipidity OECD report org/health/tackling-harmful-alcohol-use- Michele Evenstar of Exeter personal accounts brought a very real sense By a strange coincidence, the week after 9789264181069-en.htm of the pain misuse of alcohol and drugs can Yearly Meeting Gathering was held, a new Quaker Meeting reflects bring to some of us – and to close friends and report called ‘Tackling harmful alcohol use’ Whither Minimum Unit Pricing? on QAAD’s Special Interest families. was published by the OECD. The evidence Scotland legislated to introduce MUP in it sets out relates to some of the points that 2012 but it has not yet been adopted in Such an emotive topic can easily draw a Meeting at Yearly Meeting we discussed in QAAD’s Special Interest practice. The European Union’s Court of My first Britain Yearly Meeting, my first visit meeting away from its focus but Helena Meeting. Justice is currently hearing a case that was gently steered participants back to the subject to Friends House for that matter…. as someone The report finds common evidence from brought against it by the Scottish Whisky of minimum unit pricing and worked to keep who has dithered at the perimeter of the many countries that the majority of alcohol Association. In the meanwhile, the Health the debate open to everyone. Both Helena Quaker organisation for many years, unclear is drunk by the heaviest-drinking 20% of Minister for Northern Ireland has signalled about my faith and wary of commitment, I had and several of those who had been affected the population - but also that approximately his intention to consult on MUP this year, surprised myself by deciding to attend Yearly by alcohol problems stressed that although four in five drinkers would decrease their risk and Wales also seems to be moving towards a Draft Bill. The outcome of the legal Meeting. And at first I was overwhelmed by Minimum Unit Pricing may not make much of death by cutting their alcohol intake by challenge will be very significant, therefore, the size of Friends House, the busy-ness of difference to those who are already addicted, it one unit per week. One of the many points and we gather that a decision might be it (at what must be one of its busiest times), would be a strong preventative measure. Cheap of interest is found in a section on specific countries, where it considers England. The forthcoming soon. Successive Westminster the number of Quakers - organising, greeting, alcohol is one of the factors that enables ‘at authors note: ‘In England, both men and governments of all colours have considered chatting, bustling to and fro… But despite risk’ drinking to escalate. women with high education are more likely MUP but so far drawn back from adopting it. the overloading of my senses I felt among F/ By the end of this lunchtime session I felt I had to be hazardous drinkers than their less a better understanding of the background to friends from the start – as indeed I was. educated counterparts.’ On the positive side, Plain packaging for tobacco So, among all the other decisions to be made minimum unit pricing, some of the evidence it reports a fall in binge-drinking in England In March 2015, a measure enabling standardized ‘plain’ packaging for cigarettes (which main sessions to attend, when and in its favour and an awareness of some of the over the last few years. groups who are opposed to it. was included in legislation on Children where to eat, when to find time to revise for In the Special Interest Meeting we discussed and Families. The tobacco company I couldn’t help but think that bringing together whether lower prices would help those an uncomfortably imminent Nursing exam) – Philip Morris has begun a legal challenge who already have an alcohol problem. The which Special Interest Meetings shall I go to? a group of strangers for a brief period to to it, based on infringement of World Trade report presents evidence that for ‘hazardous’ The ‘Minimum Unit Pricing’ one appealed to discuss such an emotive issue is a challenging Organisation rules. Australia adopted plain drinkers, better screening, brief interventions, me. undertaking! packaging in 2012, where smoking fell from and access to help are the most significant My reflections at the end of this busy, 15% to 12.8% in the year after the measure There were perhaps fifteen attendees and it was ways in which people can be helped. It was adopted. quickly apparent that the facilitator, Helena, stimulating, exhausting weekend were that stresses that much could be achieved by was not going to present us with a lecture – this Special Interest Meeting and Yearly more preventative work at an earlier stage. she sketched out the history and principles of Meeting Gathering in general left me with a The report also explores other measures to Drugscope, the membership body that minimum unit pricing, groups who support it powerful sense of the caring, practical and reduce harm, and concludes: ‘Broader policy has provided information on matters and those who lobby against it - and then threw cooperative ways in which Quakers spend approaches may be required to complement relating to drugs over the last fifteen years, the meeting open to debate. their energy, time and funds. I wondered those solely aimed at heavy drinkers. Raising closed on March 31st 2015 because of prices can improve population health, funding problems. Their expertise and their Some of those who contributed knew or what qualities push Quakers to put their compassion into action in the numerous and doing so for cheaper alcohol may contribution of balanced, factual information had known someone who had suffered from will be much missed in the health and policy ways that were evident: perhaps faith and better target harmful drinking.’ It considers alcohol or drug experiences or, indeed, had fields. At present, their informative website commitment have a part to play? Minimum Unit Pricing in two of its chapters, suffered directly themselves. Hearing these one of which relates to Scotland. The full continues open at www.drugscope.org.uk report can be found at http://www.oecd.

4 5 groups, in which they can talk about issues GPs, treatment providers and students. Women and alcohol: new ways forward such as abuse more freely. We emphasise the importance of women- only groups and one-to-one help, and an Patsy Staddon of Bristol interfering with the performance of all these What we do at Women’s awareness of the special issues involved. Central Quaker Meeting roles. ‘Women who drink’ can be seen as Independent Alcohol Support greedy, immoral, and shamed. We have presented our work at numerous shares her perspectives (WIAS) academic and practitioner conferences, However, getting drunk may offer women All of this led me and a group of five other most recently at the British Association an escape from the traditional iconic roles My personal story women to explore an alternative approach. of Social Workers/Social Perspectives in which they have less freedom to ‘act out’ I stopped drinking for good, on my own, on We are a service user controlled group in in Mental Health conference in February when they are denied equal moral worth. 2015. We have also had our work November 16th 1988. I had used alcohol to Bristol, and a registered charity. We offer published academically in journals and in treat anxiety, mood swings and depression Alcohol is also an escape from the shame what women have told us they want, and the field of social work practice. for over 20 years. I struggled with shame and fear of domestic and sexual abuse, aim to help women to understand what lies and self-disgust and found conventional both current and in childhood, mental health behind their drinking. We offer an accessible We are at present entirely dependent on treatment (including 12 Step philosophy) difficulties and economic anxieties. Partners and safe listening environment, with women donations and our own small fund-raising rather unhelpful. For me, the support of who drink to excess, and a lack of open- only support (in small groups and on the efforts. To find out more about us please friends, developing new interests and ended, uncritical support from many treatment phone). There is access to other women with do have a look at our website at www. work, and trying to identify the reasons for services exacerbate these difficulties. similar experiences and knowledge of the wiaswomen.org.uk., where full contact details my having become severely addicted to different ways to recover. Women are not are available, or phone on 0117-9428077. alcohol, helped me to move forward. Later, Problems women may experience pressured to act until they are ready and they undertaking academic research in the field, when they seek help are invited to ‘keep calling back’. ‘Events for Close others’ Another reader has written to inform us about at Bristol, Plymouth and Exeter Universities During my discussions with other women, We also network with other specialist the residential events for relatives, close others resulted in a doctorate and further academic I found problems like these had been agencies, and are able to refer and signpost of those who have a drink or drug problem. work, and helped me to bring a Service User experienced: women to specialist support services for These are run by Action on Addiction, and are perspective to alcohol misuse, challenging • GPs - often the first port of call – related issues. based on 12 Step principles. Full details can be common perceptions among the medical may be uncertain how to respond to We also offer talks to commissioners, found at http://www.actiononaddiction.org.uk/ profession, treatment providers, and the women with alcohol issues public as a whole. I also found my way to • Many women feel they are not Quaker Meetings. I find being a Quaker being heard New legislation on ‘New Psychoactive and researchers who specialise in the field, attender to be helpful and life-enhancing, and and proposes six approaches. One of these • It can be difficult to discuss Substances’ it makes me feel I belong to a movement of is to ‘Empower users through education.’ The intimate issues with male treatment Legislation on the new psychoactive other people who care too. authors comment: ‘Many users and the general providers substances (NPS) is progressing through public have little idea about the emerging I have examined the meanings of women’s Parliament. The effect will be to make any new • They may feel silenced and/or NPS and club drugs or their potential for drinking and its social underpinnings. Crucial substance of this nature illegal, without specific embarrassed in mixed sex groups serious harm. Unhelpful terms such as ‘legal to this approach has been the concept of investigations needing to be undertaken to ban • Alcohol still tends to be seen as highs’ misinform the public and minimise the ‘no blame, no shame’ for women trying to every drug individually. This is a response to cause of problem rather than a potential harm.’ High quality information is recover identity, dignity and self-worth. the fact that NPS drugs are being developed consequence recommended. with such speed and in such numbers. The law The meaning of alcohol for women • There may be very little choice will enable the prosecution of those involved The report also suggests that treatment Alcohol may be seen as a potential enemy of about kinds of treatment, which in supply, with a variety of penalties open services need to adapt to people who take ‘health’ and ‘order’ in general, but particular often emphasise abstinence as the to courts, including an upper sentence of these drugs, who may not see the traditional drug services as being appropriate to them. fears are often expressed for the ‘safety’ first priority, although this is not best imprisonment. The full report and recommendations can of young women who get drunk. Women for everyone A recent paper for the Royal College of be found at: http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/pdf/ are still expected to uphold decency and As a consequence, women may become Psychiatrists called ‘One New Drug a Week,’ FR%20AP%2002_Sept2014.pdf order, and we expect ‘femininity,’ especially desperate for a different kind of support, addresses the problems posed by NPS and in young women. Drunkenness is seen as and in particular, for women-only support ‘club drugs’. It was written by psychiatrists

6 7 Making a difference A date for your diary:

The vastness of the problems of addiction seems The QAAD/Woodbrooke overwhelming, but QAAD makes a difference by being an effective pressure group for tackling those conference 2016 problems. We speak up on behalf of concerned Friends. Dates: 29th – 31st July 2016 We support Friends working in the field of addiction, and local meetings who have members with related problems. Title: Making A Difference We depend for financial support on the giving of We hope to see old Friends and present and past members. new at our biennial conference Your donation please should be made payable to at Woodbrooke for reflection and QAAD and sent to: Ron Barden, Treasurer, 33 Booth Lane North, Northampton, NN3 6JQ. sharing. Giving by individuals by cheque or cash can be More details in forthcoming editions enhanced by signing and enclosing the form below. of QAADRANT Gift Aid Declaration I confirm that I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for this tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities that I donate Keep an eye on the to will reclaim on my gifts for the current tax year. (Other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not QAAD website at qualify). I understand that the charity will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I give. www.qaad.org Name Signature We will be reconfiguring the Date website over the next few Address months and look forward to including new material about our work and our concern.

Letters and articles for QAADRANT are very welcome, and should be sent to Helena Chambers, 21 Church Street, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire GL20 5PD. t: 01684 299247 e: [email protected]

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