ee

and situations.

DRUGS: Use and

Understanding Alcoholism

Reprinted from the Cassiar
Courier, April, 1987. ‘
It is important to first

understand the ditference between
social and aicoholic drinking.
Social drinking can be perceived
as drinking that is moderate in
amount, enjoyable, and without
serious behavioral changes. It:
is a ‘part ' of being together
rather than the ‘reason' for
being together. It is drinking
in which a person essentially
wants to have something to drink,
opposed to drinking because of a

felt need to drink. Social
drinking is the freedom to drink
or not to drink at certain times

There is no de-
pendance upon alcohol to assure a
good time. There is no depend-
ance upon alcohol for living and
coping with life's realities.

At certain times and occa-
sions some social drinkers do
drink enough to "get loaded",
but typically they do not get in-
volved in negative behaviour as a
result. The social drinker sees
it as both appropriate and a part
of the enjoyment of the situa-
tion. This excessive drinking is
not at all the norm for them.

Alcoholic drinking is marked
by the inability to drink within,
or according to ones own inten-
tion. “There “is a-definite loss
of control. Alcoholism is a

physical addiction coupled with a

mental compulsion to drink. Get-
ting drunk is not the’ intention,
but it happens increasingly. The

drinking becomes inappropriate in

the amount, the time and
place. ;

The World Health Organiza-~
tion states that “Alcoholism is
any drinking behavior which = im-
pairs, with progressive serious—

ness, and individuals ability to

function in the domestic / social

/ vocational areas
life". There is also a marked
failure to grow emotionally
spiritually..

As you can
of an alcoholic

of his / her

see, the notion
being a person
that resembles a troll and lives
under bridges is not correct. It
is estimated that less then 5% of
alcoholics live on "skid road".
The typical adult alcoholic is a
parent and employed. Alcoholism

cuts through all social and eco-
nomic lines. It does not dis-
criminate against race, color or
creed.

Most experts now
the following concepts:

agree on

ils That alcoholism is a dis-
ease. It is not a matter of
willpower or of low moral fiber.
It appears to be hereditary. One
out of three/four ftamilies are
considered prone to the disease.
kesearch indicates that there 1s
@ genetic

predetermination to
alcoholism. It appears that in
some instances, addiction is a
biologically inevitable conse~
cuence of ordinary social contact

more frequent intervals.

the.

and © coholism.

ulcers, certain types of

with alcohol.

Phe It is a primary disease. It
is not the result of an = under-
lying condition.

Si It is a chronic disease. It
comes on slowly, but once con-
tracted, it cannot be reversed.

4. It is a progressive disease.
It 'never' gets better, always
worse. If it is not treated, it

develops through predictable
stages to predictable ends.

5. It is a 'treatable' disease.
The progression can be interrupt-—
ed and arrested at any time.

There is a definite progres~
sion of alcoholism: PRE-
ALCOHOLIC PHASE: Alcohol is
first used as a drug; progres-
sively larger amounts used at

EARI.Y ALCOHOLIC PHASE:
First occurances of Blackouts
(the inability to recall events
that transpired while drinking);
usually accompanied by teelings
Of guilt; implementation of de-
fence mechanisms; i.e. denial,
self-justification, rationaliza-
tion, etc.; pre-occupation with
drinking; disinterest in attend-
ing affairs where no alcohol is
available;
alcohol. .

CRUCIAL PHASE: Periods of
abstinence; changing to another
drug; change of job if lifestyle /

associate.

CHRONIC PHASE: Prolonged
unplanned drinking sprees;
ethical deterioration; thoughts

become chronically impaired; in-
definable fears; tolerance to al-
cohol decreases. ah

‘These are just a few symp-
toms of the various stages of al-
Some symptomS may ap-~
pear at different stages and some
may not appear at all. I have
‘not Listed the coinciding physi-
cal effects. They include liver
and brain damage, heart disease,
cancer,

impotence, and disorders of the
pancreas...and death.

; Whether a person is a week-
end “binge drinker" or a daily

excessive drinker (where there is
increasing consumption without
obvious impairment), they drink
only beer, or only wine, has no
determination in regards to al-
cololism. What is important is
‘the reasons for drinking and how
it affects the individual.

Being a “little alcoholic"
is like being a “little preg-
nant". The early signs are not
as externally detectable, but the
end result is unquestionable.

There is a.,;simple) test de
veloped and used by the John
Hopkins University Hospital to

determine whether or not a person
is alcoholic.

Page 6 Cassiar Courier

Abuse

increased tolerance to

January 1990

by Gerry Gramek

ARE YOU AN ALCOHOLIC? To answer
this question, ask yourself the
following questions and answer
them as honestly as you can:

1. Do you lose
due to drinking?

time from work

2. Is drinking making your home
life unhappy?
3. Do you drink because you are

shy with other people?
4. Is drinking atfecting your
reputation?

5. Have you ever felt remorse
after drinking?

6. Have you gotten into fin-
ancial difficulties as result
of drinking?

7... Do you turn to lower. . com-

panions and an inferior environ-
ment when drinking?

8. Does your drinking
Careless of your
fare?

9. Has your ambition
since drinking?

10. Do you crave a
definite time daily?
ll. bo you want. a drink the
morning?
12. Does

make
family's

you
wel -

decreased
drink at a
next

drinking Cause you tu

‘have difficulty in sleeping?

13. Has your efficiency decreas
ed since drinking?
14. Ts drinking
your job ar business?

jeopardizing

15. Do you drink to escape from
worries or trouble?

16. Do you drink alone?

17. Have you ever had 4 complete
loss of memory aS a result 9 of-
drinking? k

= 18;. Has our physician ever
treated you for drinking?

Noe Do you drink to build up
your self confidence?

20. Have you ever been to a hos -
pital or institution on account

oft drinking?

It you have answered YES to
One ot the guestions, there is a
definite warning that YOU MAY BE
ALCOHOLIC. [t you have answered
YES to any TWO, the chances are
that. YOU ARE AN ALCOHOLIC. Lf
you have answered YRS to THREE OR
MORE, YOU ARE DEFINITELY AN
ALCOHOLIC!

Tf you have any questions or
additional in
contact

would like
formation,

some
please

Gerry

 Gramek.

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Cassiar Courier January 1990 Page 7

22 2 6 Rak Te 1 OS SS SS SS SVS. as

‘Cassiar Community Club

The Cassiar Children's Party
this year was a tremendous’ suc-
cess due to the etforts of all
our volunteers and Supporters.

The Cassiar Community Club
would like to take this oppor-
tunity to gratefully acknowledge
those organizations, who through
their Support made this event
possible.

Cassiar Mining Corp.
Cassiar Dental Clinic
Canadian Mine Development
Jen-Dev Catering
McDonalds (Whitehorse)
Rear tition. -

Royal Bank

Sportsmen Lunchonette
U.S.W.A. - Local 6536
Northern Lights College
Cassiar Shopping Centre
Cassiar Lions
Government Agent

Marvel Travel

Post Office

R & S Services

S & J Transportation

T & C Services

U.S.W.A - Local 8449
Ptarmigan Players

A special thanks is extended
to Garry Periard and Santa's |
elves who helped to bring Santa
Claus to the party, . and to ait
the numerous volunteers who as-
sisted in organizing the party,
stuffing Christmas stockings,
wrapping gifts, cooking hotdogs
and entertaining the childern.

On behalf of all the Child.
ern of Cassiar....Thanks! ES elite
nice to see that the Community
Spirit sis alive “and welt in

Cassiar.

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