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November
4, 1939 Cleveland Plain Dealer
A
PHYSICIAN LOOKS UPON ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
By
ELRICK B. DAVIS
Dr.
Silkworth
The first appraisal in a scientific journal of Alcoholics
Anonymous, former drunkards who cure themselves by curing
each other with the help of religious experience, was published
in the July issue of the journal Lancet. It was "A
New Approach to Psychotherapy [in] Chronic Alcoholism.:
by W. D. Silkworth, M.D. physician in charge, Chas B. Town's
Hospital, New York City. A drunkard during a moment of [deep]
depression had the spontaneous "religious experience"
which started his cure. This was the seed from which came
Alcoholics Anonymous. Dr. silkworth was at first skeptical.
He is no longer. Excerpts from his paper follow:
"The
beginning and subsequent development of a new approach to
the problem of permanent recovery for the chronic alcoholic
has already produced remarkable results and promises much
for the future. This statement is based upon four years
of close observation. the principal answer is: Each ex-alcoholic
has had and is able to maintain, a vital spiritual or 'religious'
experience, accompanied by marked changes of personality.
There is a radical change in outlook, attitude and habits
of thought. In nearly all cases, these are evident within
a few months, often less.
"The
conscious search of these ex-alcoholics for the right answer
has enabled them to find an approach effectual in something
more than half of all cases. This is truly remarkable when
it is remembered that most of them were undoubtedly beyond
the reach of other remedial measures.
Religion
"Considering
the presence of the religious factor, one might expect to
find unhealthy emotionalism and prejudice. On the contrary,
there is an instant readiness to discard old methods for
new which produce better results. It was early found that
usually the weakest approach to an alcoholic is directly
through his family or friends, especially if the patient
is drinking heavily. Ex-alcoholics frequently insist a physician
take the patient in hand, placing him in a hospital when
possible. If proper hospitalization and medical care is
not carried out, this patient faces the danger of delirium
tremens, 'wet brain' or other complications. After a few
days' stay, the physician brings up the question of permanent
sobriety. If the patient is interested, he tactfully introduces
a member of the group. By this time the prospect has self-control,
can think straight, and the approach can be made casually.
More than half the fellowship have been so treated. The
group is unanimous in its belief that hospitalization is
desirable, even imperative, in most cases...
"An
effort is made for frank discussion with the patient, leading
to self-understanding. He must make the necessary readjustment
to his environment. Co-operation and confidence must be
secured. The objectives are to bring about extraversion
and provide someone to whom he can transfer his dilemma.
This group is now attaining this because of the following
reasons:
Reasons
- Because
of their alcoholic experiences and successful recoveries
they secure a high degree of confidence from their prospects.
- Because
of this initial confidence, identical experiences, and
the fact that the discussion is pitched on moral and
religious grounds, the patient tells his story and makes
his self-appraisal with extreme thoroughness and honesty.
He stops living alone and finds himself within reach
of a fellowship with whom he can discuss his problems
as they arise.
- Because
of the ex-alcoholic brotherhood, the patient too, is
able to save other alcoholics from destruction. At one
and the same time, the patient acquires an ideal, a
hobby, a strenuous avocation, and a social life which
he enjoys among other ex-alcoholics and their families.
These factors make powerfully for his extraversion.
- Because
of objects aplenty in whom he can vest his confidence,
the patient can turn to the individuals to whom he first
gave his confidence, the ex-alcoholic group as a whole,
or to the Deity.
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