PUBLISHED BY AMERICAN MEDICAL SOCIETY PHYSICIAN'S ON ALCOHOLISM, Inc. 120 Central Park So. New York, N.Y. 10019 Voluma 3 No. 3 ®Copyright 1968 American Medical Society on Alcoholism, Inc. NEWSLETTER All Rights Reserved GOLDBERG EYES INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS SHOWS ALCOHOLISM FOR MEDICAL SOCIETY POLITICAL INTEREST In addressing the first-meeting of the More than 200 scientists and other professionals from all over the world, in­ American Medical Society on Alcohol­ cluding many eastern European nations, exchanged research and treatment find­ ism in Washington, D.C., Dr.. Leonard ings at the 28th International Congress on Alcohol and Alcoholism which con­ Goldberg, professor of alcohol pharma­ vened last month in Washington, D.C. Convention chairman, David J. Pittmann, cology at Sweden's Karolinska Institute, Ph.D., said allocation of govern­ outlined the broad range and implica­ mental and provate resources for tions of alcohol research ih that country. AA DOCTORS CONVENE combatting alcoholism and alcohol-re­ The professor, demonstrated an unusual lated problems throughout the world The 20th annual meeting of Inter­ has been "meager." But he pointed teaching ability by his breadth of vision national Doctors in Alcoholics Anony­ and by his capacity for clearcut ex­ out that interest in alcoholism in the mous was held recently in Atlanta, United States is increasing and is re­ planations and engaging humor. Dr. Georgia. Members include dentists as Goldberg, describing his work as neuro­ ceiving more government support as well as MDs. Guest speaker, Dr. Ver­ evidence by the passage of the recent pharmacology, discovered that a form nelle Fox, medical director of the of horizontal nystagmus, with the fast "Alcoholism Rehabilitation Act," sup­ Georgian Clinic for Alcoholics, told the ported overwhelmingly by both parties. compononent in one direction, occurs professional members, "Alcoholics re­ after drinking while the blood alcohol To illustrate how far behind this coun­ cover when they become addicted to try is compared with others, he pointed curve goes up and that this trend is re­ people instead of to alcohol, sedatives, versed during withdrawal. The latter out that Stockholm spends $7,000,000 tranquilizers, or any other chemicals." a year on alcoholism service while the 'hase is very prolonged. This nystagmus She emphasized the dangers of cross­ ' can be interrupted by vomiting or by total United States federal budget for addition among alcoholics because many it is only $11,000,000 annually. the effects of tranquilizers. It differs sedative and psychotropic agents once from gaze nystagmus and from the rov­ thought non-addictive are now pre­ The role of state governments m ing motions of the eye, placing the action senting grave addiction and withdrawal tackling alcoholism was exemplified by of alcohol in the reticular formation of problems for some alcoholics at the Iowa Governor Harold E. Hughes' talk the brain. No other animal but man Georgian Clinic. to the Congress. Governor Hughes was exhibits this phenomenon after alcohol wary of statistics. For an example, he ingestion and no other chemical tested The unique group also learned of a said experts say there are 50,000 alco­ produces it. Other studies with a plat­ Roosevelt Hospital research team's fol­ holics in Iowa today when they claimed form-like device can measure yet an­ low-up study of alcoholic physicians and the same number ten years ago. He said other physiologic response to alcohol­ nurses. International Doctors in A.A. that total mobilization is needed to fight body swaY,. The measurement, translated was formed by the late Dr. C. P. of the problem and, referring to the In­ Cape Vincent, New York who organ­ (Continued on page 3, col. 3) ternational Congress said, "Now we are ized the first meeting of 25 doctors in getting somewhere." 1949. These annual professional meet­ PSYCHIATRIC FOCI ings in different parts of North America Governor Hughes discussed The Iowa are supplemental to the regular A.A. Comprehensive Alcoholism Project, a AT CONGRESS life members lead in their home towns state agency funded by federal, state Studies presented at the 28th Inter­ "just like any other A.A. member, and local agencies. Its function is not national Congress on Alcohol & Alco­ whether he is an unemployed laborer, limited to providing information or holism touched many aspects of the ap­ a movie star, or a professional . In clinical services, but is mainly directed proach of the therapist, personality of A.A., we are all alike in sharing our to improving the abilities of existing the alcoholic, treatment and its results. experience, strength and hope with agencies to c·ope more successfully with That alcoholism has not been totally each other, there are no experts or spe­ alcoholism and its concomitant prob­ accepted in regular psychiatric prac­ cial categories of members." But, A.A. lems. He claims that large state insti­ tice, was demonstrated in Durham, meetings restricted to one profession tutional programs are undesirable and N. C. where it was found that psychia­ have never proved successful in the 33- that local resourecs must be developed. tric patients labelled 'excessive drink­ year history of A.A. unless the alcoholic The trained staff of the 9 strategically ers" were treated like other patients, also attends ordinary, every-day meet­ located centers of the state project help whereas similar patients labelled 'alco- ings with alcoholics from other walks with the patient's immediate needs­ tolic's' were more often refused treat­ of life. For further information about quick mdical help, a place to sleep, ment or prejudicially treated. (D. G. International Doctors in A.A., write: food for a needy family, minimal tools for Mayfield, Vets. Adm. Hosp.). Accord­ Information Secretary, 1950 Volney a man to get a job. Community groups ing to another study physicians with Road, Youngstown, Ohio 44511. The have pitched in to provide these. Gover­ low degrees of authoritarianism treat 1969 meeting is to be held in Monis­ nor Hughes states proudly, "Today, alco- (Continued on page 4, col. 1) town, N. J. (Continued on page 4, col. 3) Editoria1 EPIDEMIOLOGY OF JELLINEK AWARD ALCOHOLISM: A.A. PRESENTED "THE CONGRESS" Dr. John L. Norris, Chairman of the The first Jellinek Memorial Award, The twenty-eighth international con­ A.A.'s General Service Board, presented commemorating the late Dr. E. M gress on alcohol and alcoholism, a mo­ findings of a 1968 summer survey, by J ellinek, a biometrician and scholar h. mentous bringing together of experts that group, of 11,355 American and the field of alcoholism, was presented from all over the world, has come and Canadian alcoholics, during the Sep­ by the 28th International Congress on gone. The meaning of this exercise as tember convention of the 28th Interna­ Alcohol and Alcoholism to Dr. Jean­ an event in man's progress towards the­ tional Congress on Alcohol and Alcohol­ Pierre von Wartburg. The young physi­ elemination of this knotty problem has ism. Of the 60.3% of respondents who cian-biochemist is research investigator yet to be fully realized. Several things were drink-free for from one year to at the Medical Chemical Institute of the were clear. Many dedicated people more than 20 years, 34.9% were dry up University of Bern in Switzerland. Prof. throughout the world are tackling the to five years; 13.3% were dry from six Mark Keller of the Rutgers University problems of alcoholism. These include to ten years; 6.5% from 11 to 15 years Center of Alcohol Studies presented the scientists in the fields of physiology, and 3.6% for 15 to 20 years. Two per award-$1,000 and a bronze bust of Dr. medicine, and psychiatry; sociologists cent were drink-free for more than 20 Jellinek. and economists; lawyers.., and clergy. years. The work for which the Swiss inves­ Much of the research in treating alco­ Influencing 54.8% of initial A.A. visits tigator was honored includes studies on holism is of the 'soft' variety, but in­ were other A.A. members while fami­ the liver enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase creasingly, genuine steps towards modern lies influenced 34% and physicians, which normally oxidizes 100 mg. of al­ research in methods and concepts are 16.2%. That more doctors, as part of cohol per Kg of body weight an hour. bringing light to the problems. Perhaps their treatment, are now referring pa­ Dr. von Wartburg's recent work result­ the most important phase of the confer­ tients to A.A. is evidenced by the fact ed in the isolation of an atypical liver ence was the interplay between the dele­ that of respondents sober 20 years or enzyme which in vitro oxidized alcohol gates from morning till dark around the more, 12% were referred to A.A. by five to flix times faster. In one subject, great coffee table or in the corridors. MDs. And, of recent A.A. referrals, 19% carrier of atypical enzyme, alcohol was oxidized at the rate of 141 mg. an hour. One controversial issue was tackled were made by physicians. Other indu­ The difference between the action of by Dr. Morris Chafetz of Harvard U. cers included A.A. literature, clergymen, the abnormal enzyme in vitro and in School of Medicine, who warned against employers, all communications media, vivo may be explained by the possible political misuse of any power to con­ friends, lawyers, psychologists, counsel­ presence of another enzyme that re­ fine an alcoholic against his will. Where­ ling agencies, hospitals and the National tards oxidation. Dr. van Wartburg as we took issue with him because of Council on Alcoholism. stated that children who suffer from gly­ the real problem of obtaining treatment The data gathered appears significant cogen or carbohydrate storage disease rather than incarceration of the acutely evidence that Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are extremely useful in helping oxidize 460 mg.