Myths and realities of Alcoholism

Dr.James Milam published a book called "Under the Influence" in
1981. "Experts" at the time were ecstatic about the book. It has
sold over a million copies.


It was hailed as "the most important breakthrough in alcohlolsm since
the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935" by Ron Fagan of the
Cedar Hills Alcoholism Treatment Center.


Marty Mann (sometimes called the first lady of AA who founded the
National Council of Alcoholism) said "I find Dr.Milans concept
extraordinary and exciting"


"Under The Influence will advance by light years the understanding of
alcoholism and the recovery process----Mel Schustad, cofounder,National
Association of Alcoholism Counselors.


In the book Dr. Milan states " Physiology not psychology determines
whether one drinker will become addicted to alcohol and another will
not". In the book Dr. Milan cites abnormal metabolism of acetaldehyde
, the intermediate byprodcust of alcohol metabolism, as the culprit.
He cites studies by Marc Schuckit , a psychiatrist and researcher at
the University of California at San Diego, and Charles Lieber , chief
of research program at the Bronx Veterans Hospital, as scientific proof
that alcoholics are different. Here At long last, according to
experts, the riddle of alcoholism is solved.


Even to this day the idea of abnormal metablolism of acetaldehyde is
advanced in many AA circles as being the "cause" of alcoholism.
Dr. Milan is now associated wth the Lakeside-Milam Recovery Centers.
The Lakeside-Milam Recovery Center still advances the same idea
published in the book in 1981:


Their website says:


Reality: Addiction to alcohol is primarily physiological. Alcoholics
become addicted because their bodies are physiologically incapable of
processing alcohol normally.


All this is great. Right. It is except for one thing. The passage of
time has proved that the idea of abnormal metablolism advanced in
"Under the Influence" Iis re simply not true. According to the
Addiction Science and Research Center at the University of Texas at
Austin:


" Old ideas that acetaldehyde is a poison that leads to organ damage
and perhaps brain damage, and that the rate at which acetaldehyde turns
to acetate in the brain influences the onset of alcoholism, have not
been substantiated by science".


What? You mean a book by an Alcoholism expert subtitled "a guide to
the myths and realities of alcoholism" actually promotes a myth? Yes.
And even years after the idea has been discredited the author still
promotes it and so do many AA members? Yes.


The inmates are running the asylum.