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02-14-2008, 09:36 PM
W. D. Silkworth, "Alcoholism as a Manifestation
of Allergy," an article which appeared in the
Medical Record (March 17, 1937), discusses
what he saw as the difference between "normal
drinkers" and the real alcoholic.
http://silkworth. net/silkworth/ allergy.html
(For other of Dr. Silkworth's writings see
http://silkworth. net/silkworth/ silkworth. html )
- - - -
We may set it down as a fundamental proposi-
tion that alcoholism is not a habit. Second,
drunkenness and alcoholism are not synonymous.
Intoxication with alcohol, as commonly observed,
is a purely superficial manifestation of no
diagnostic importance whatever in itself; nor
is the desire to take a drink, which is common
to many. The majority of people who drink
alcohol apparently do so with impunity. Prohi-
bition revealed, among other things, how much
people desire to use alcohol on all sorts of
occasions, and that this desire, and inten-
tion, are not limited to chronic alcoholics.
The judge, the senator, the preacher, all want
their alcohol on occasion.
The merchant or the broker closes transactions
over a highball and frequently indulges several
times daily for many years. The clubman and
the society matron, the daily laborer, the
high and the low alike may drink daily more or
less liberally of any and all sorts of liquor
during much of their life time. They may, and
do, become intoxicated; but note that in the
majority of such cases alcohol exhibits only
the immediate effects of the drug, and recov-
ery is prompt and uncomplicated. Copious
elimination, with a cold pack on the head and
a brisk shower bath on the "morning after"
end the matter. Also note, for later compari-
son, that if, for any reason, this type of
drinker decides to "swear off", he experi-
ences no more physical or mental pang than
accompanies the abandonment of any other
habitual mode of living. There is no "problem,"
no struggle, no psychic complications to be
met, nothing but the transient inconvenience
of interruption in his usual customs. For
one reason or another he has decided that
the inducements to stop drinking are greater
than those to continue it. He has had a one
hundred percent change of mind and his will
is one hundred percent free to act accord-
ingly.
Such people drink from choice and not from
necessity. They find in alcohol a pleasant
stimulation, a relief from anxieties, an
increased warmth of conviviality. It is not
a dominant factor in their lives. They are
normal people, mentally and physically, to
all intents and purposes. We must keep in
mind, also, the fact that the multitude of
persons who exhibit misbehavior conduct
through faulty upbringing or complexes, who
are oppressed by a sense of humiliation or
inferiority because of unfriendly or disap-
proving associates or because of some physical
defect, and find that a few drinks enable
them to consider themselves the equals of
any or even superior to all others, are not
to be classed as chronic alcoholics merely
because they indulge in alcohol regularly. A
change of environment, a new mental attitude,
or the restoration of confidence in themselves
may suffice to bring about a totally new
policy on their part. The significant point
is that under such circumstances, if they
desire to stop drinking they can do it without
a struggle. They have no need to lean upon
anyone else or anything outside of themselves
for support. Alcohol is not necessary for them.
This, we believe, is a fair view of the general
drinking public, and constitutes a familiar
background against which to contrast a very
different picture. These people are not true
alcoholics, but they may become so; and it is
from among them that the real alcoholics are
derived.
Let us now contrast with this kind of drinker
an entirely different type. He is, as we have
noted, a development of the class we have just
described, his history may be quite like that
of the average. But sooner or later there
comes a time when he manifests changes that
place him in a classification characterized
by symptoms that were entirely lacking before,
and unequivocally set him apart from the
average drinker. Whereas he formerly drank
for pleasure, he now has to drink from neces-
sity in order to keep going. He cannot take
his liquor or leave it, as he used to do. Yet,
even if he is more or less soaked with it all
day, his mind at first functions fairly well,
he transacts his business with fair efficiency
and keeps up with his obligations to his asso-
ciates and the community. But he discovers
that a change has occurred in him. He finds
that he has to have a drink in the morning.
Then he finds, after a little more time, that
his hand shakes; when he signs his name, for
example. Later, irritability and lack of
concentration supervene. He is not the man
temperamentally that he used to be. In order
to meet these changes and increasing symptoms,
he is compelled to increase the amount he
consumes, and a prolonged spree replaces a
short intoxication.
of Allergy," an article which appeared in the
Medical Record (March 17, 1937), discusses
what he saw as the difference between "normal
drinkers" and the real alcoholic.
http://silkworth. net/silkworth/ allergy.html
(For other of Dr. Silkworth's writings see
http://silkworth. net/silkworth/ silkworth. html )
- - - -
We may set it down as a fundamental proposi-
tion that alcoholism is not a habit. Second,
drunkenness and alcoholism are not synonymous.
Intoxication with alcohol, as commonly observed,
is a purely superficial manifestation of no
diagnostic importance whatever in itself; nor
is the desire to take a drink, which is common
to many. The majority of people who drink
alcohol apparently do so with impunity. Prohi-
bition revealed, among other things, how much
people desire to use alcohol on all sorts of
occasions, and that this desire, and inten-
tion, are not limited to chronic alcoholics.
The judge, the senator, the preacher, all want
their alcohol on occasion.
The merchant or the broker closes transactions
over a highball and frequently indulges several
times daily for many years. The clubman and
the society matron, the daily laborer, the
high and the low alike may drink daily more or
less liberally of any and all sorts of liquor
during much of their life time. They may, and
do, become intoxicated; but note that in the
majority of such cases alcohol exhibits only
the immediate effects of the drug, and recov-
ery is prompt and uncomplicated. Copious
elimination, with a cold pack on the head and
a brisk shower bath on the "morning after"
end the matter. Also note, for later compari-
son, that if, for any reason, this type of
drinker decides to "swear off", he experi-
ences no more physical or mental pang than
accompanies the abandonment of any other
habitual mode of living. There is no "problem,"
no struggle, no psychic complications to be
met, nothing but the transient inconvenience
of interruption in his usual customs. For
one reason or another he has decided that
the inducements to stop drinking are greater
than those to continue it. He has had a one
hundred percent change of mind and his will
is one hundred percent free to act accord-
ingly.
Such people drink from choice and not from
necessity. They find in alcohol a pleasant
stimulation, a relief from anxieties, an
increased warmth of conviviality. It is not
a dominant factor in their lives. They are
normal people, mentally and physically, to
all intents and purposes. We must keep in
mind, also, the fact that the multitude of
persons who exhibit misbehavior conduct
through faulty upbringing or complexes, who
are oppressed by a sense of humiliation or
inferiority because of unfriendly or disap-
proving associates or because of some physical
defect, and find that a few drinks enable
them to consider themselves the equals of
any or even superior to all others, are not
to be classed as chronic alcoholics merely
because they indulge in alcohol regularly. A
change of environment, a new mental attitude,
or the restoration of confidence in themselves
may suffice to bring about a totally new
policy on their part. The significant point
is that under such circumstances, if they
desire to stop drinking they can do it without
a struggle. They have no need to lean upon
anyone else or anything outside of themselves
for support. Alcohol is not necessary for them.
This, we believe, is a fair view of the general
drinking public, and constitutes a familiar
background against which to contrast a very
different picture. These people are not true
alcoholics, but they may become so; and it is
from among them that the real alcoholics are
derived.
Let us now contrast with this kind of drinker
an entirely different type. He is, as we have
noted, a development of the class we have just
described, his history may be quite like that
of the average. But sooner or later there
comes a time when he manifests changes that
place him in a classification characterized
by symptoms that were entirely lacking before,
and unequivocally set him apart from the
average drinker. Whereas he formerly drank
for pleasure, he now has to drink from neces-
sity in order to keep going. He cannot take
his liquor or leave it, as he used to do. Yet,
even if he is more or less soaked with it all
day, his mind at first functions fairly well,
he transacts his business with fair efficiency
and keeps up with his obligations to his asso-
ciates and the community. But he discovers
that a change has occurred in him. He finds
that he has to have a drink in the morning.
Then he finds, after a little more time, that
his hand shakes; when he signs his name, for
example. Later, irritability and lack of
concentration supervene. He is not the man
temperamentally that he used to be. In order
to meet these changes and increasing symptoms,
he is compelled to increase the amount he
consumes, and a prolonged spree replaces a
short intoxication.