Pubdate: Tue, 30 Dec 2003
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO)
Copyright: 2004 St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.stltoday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/418
Author: Bert Emmons
Note: Bert Emmons is executive director of The Exodus Program, an addiction
treatment center in Kirkwood
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

The Holidays

HOLIDAYS CAN BE RUINED BY SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Addiction Diseases Can Be Successfully Treated And Kept Under Control.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Until, that is, you're all ready to pile into the mini-van for the
traditional drive through Tilles Park to see the lights. Uncle Frank
insists that he's OK to drive, in spite of the fact that he's had way
too much to drink and everybody knows it. Someone objects, and Frank,
as he always does, dismisses the objection. He starts to open the
driver's side door, and someone else objects. Frank turns around,
spews out an obscenity, then slips and falls to the driveway pavement.
Everyone's embarrassed, and the trip to Tilles Park is cancelled.

Sure, the holidays are a most wonderful time of year for most of us,
but for the one in four families where drinking has been, at one time
or another, a problem, they're sometimes a challenge.

The scene above may be fictional, but something very much like it
happens with considerable frequency. And the problems cross all age,
gender and economic-status boundaries.

They also occur more often than many people know - or are willing to
admit. Ten million Americans are alcoholics, and another ten million
are problem drinkers who may be on their way to becoming alcoholics.
Millions more experience abuse of or addiction to other drugs, both
legal and illegal.

Problems tend to crop up around Christmas or New Year's - or around
Memorial Day or Independence Day or Labor Day - because gatherings of
friends, families and co-workers at holiday times often include
alcoholic beverages.

Is there a cure for addictive diseases? No, although scientists are
making great progress in identifying factors that explain why some
people suffer from them while others don't. And they're making
progress in identifying effective ways to treat addiction.

Addictions are chronic, progressive diseases but, with proper
diagnosis and treatment, those who have them can gain the tools
necessary to free themselves. Indeed, treatment of addiction has
proved as successful as treatment of other chronic diseases such as
diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.

As 2003 ends and 2004 begins, many of us will be making resolutions
that we hope will improve our lives in the coming year. If your
holidays are less joyful than they should be because of problems
associated with the use of alcohol or other drugs, maybe this is a
good time to remember that there is hope for those who struggle with
such problems. Contact one of the many community service and health
care organizations that treat people with addictions. And maybe a year
from now, this really will be the most wonderful time of the year.

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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin