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This paper reports an investigation of the relationship between the physical severity of the ciliated calcium carbimide/alcohol reaction and its effectiveness as a deterrent. An attempt has been made to simulate the likely sequence of events which occur when alcoholics taking this drug, drink. The 16 male subjects were receiving 100 mg of ciliated calcium carbimide daily. For the test they were allowed 2 ozs whisky (18 G absolute alcohol) every 15 minutes until the reaction deterred them. There were 9 subjects still unconvinced when their reactions were terminated on physical grounds. Four subjects who had taken 6 ozs whisky had falls of systolic blood pressure below 85 mm Hg yet wished to continue drinking. The procedure now followed, as a result of these findings, in the treatment of alcoholics with citrated calcium carbimide is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents information regarding symptoms which developed after heavy drinkers stop drinking. The withdrawal syndrome may not be so phenomenologically specific nor readily identifiable as its designation as a syndrome may suggest. Thus many of the reported symptoms occur under other circumstances as part of other disorders. These symptoms may therefore antedate, be concurrent with, or be exacerbated by, the withdrawal process as well as collectively constituting the classical withdrawal syndrome. The demonstration of an association between certain phenomena and partial or complete withdrawal does not define those phenomena as pathognemonic criteria of the withdrawal syndrome or syndromes.

In the first part of a long-term evaluation of a specialised service for the treatment of drug and alcohol addicts, interviews were conducted with 139 drug abusers referred in 1969 and 1970. The problems of drug abuse in the East Midlands differ from those described in metropolitan areas. The problem in terms of notified opiate addiction is small although over half the sample had had at least one experience with opiates. There was a low incidence of physical disability due to drug abuse, compared to the London clinics. The most commonly abused drugs were oral amphetamines and cannabis, but patients usually had experience of more than one drug. There was a marked increase in LSD abuse since 1970. Dependence was on a drug sub-culture rather than on a, particular drug. Social pressures appeared more important in the genesis of drug abuse than mental distress. Over half claimed to have been introduced to drugs by "a friend" and only 6 per cent by "a pusher". This would suggest that the efficacy of legislators making a distinction between pusher and user is blurred. The mean age of the sample was 23 years. Most were unmarried and all were British by birth. No social class was disproportionately represented. Most were resident in Nottingham or Nottingham shire. Distance and lack of information may have been a barrier to patients further a field using the service. Over half were unemployed at first con tact. The majority of the sample had an unstable work records The number of patients referred to the Addiction Unit is i,increasing probably because the Clinic is becoming better known in the area. It as suggested, however, that the patients seen represented only a small proportion of the overall problem of drug abuse in the East Midlands. There is a growing need for treatment centres in the provinces to deal with the problems of drug abuse which differ from the metropolitan pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are two basic methods of dealing with the alcoholic in Scotland--treatment in hospital and confinement in prison. The treatment an alcoholic receives in hospital varies with the kind of hospital. In a medical ward of a general hospital he receives treatment for the physical ill effects of chronic alcoholism. Alcoholics also form an important group in the admissions to the psychiatric units of general hospitals. Studies of such units in Glasgow do not show a high success rate with alcoholics. These units may have to contend with the negative attitude of the general medical staff to alcoholism as well as the patient's tendency "to use a hospital as a port of call during a storm rather than as a convenient site for major repairs". Their work is also hampered by insufficient trained staff for intensive treatment. A specialized "Alcoholism Unit" where alcoholics both live and receive treatment in a separate unit is less likely to have these particular difficulties. Follows up studies of the unit attached to the Royal Edinburgh Hospital show that 68 per cent were abstinent after 18 months. Most alcoholics in Scottish mental hospitals, however, are treated in the acute admission wards. McCance and McCance, from a comparison of the effects of psychotherapy, aversion therapy and ward routine, suggest these are less important in relation to outcome than certain characteristics which individual alcoholics have. The better success rates enjoyed by some hospitals may be a function of this. McCance and McCance found poor outcome was associated, among other factors, with the alcoholic who belonged to a heavy drinking subculture, lived alone, drank cheap wine, had unstable marital relations and police convictions and was of low social class. The situation of chronic drunkenness offenders is unique as they are held responsible and punished for acts which most of the medical profession would consider, in at least a high proportion of cases, to be the result of a disease. Compulsory treatment has been offered as an alternative in some States in the U.S.A. and has met with some success. The particular characteristics of this group-occupational instability, homelessness and personal isolation however must be considered in the development of an appropriate treatment. The establishment of "half-way houses" which have simple but firm rules and are run on "communal" lines is an attempt to provide a place where the Skid Row alcoholic can start to interact and resume social relations that have lapsed. Schemes attempting to return the Skid Row alcoholic to an independent life without resort to alcohol are particularly important because the Skid Row alcoholic shows many of the characteristics which occur in those who fail to benefit from hospital treatment. Alcoholism is a serious mental health problem in Scotland. It is in all probability becoming more serious. There is an urgent need for the development of adequate facilities, especially for those alcoholics with "less favourable features". Above all, and, most urgently, the treatment of the chronic draukenness offender must be removed from its present penal context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of British Journal of Addiction (to Alcohol & Other Drugs) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Discusses the effect of attitudes in the therapy of alcoholics. Aids to recovery offered to alcoholic patients; Qualification of an ideal therapist for alcoholics; Tips on gaining success in treating alcoholics.

Copyright of British Journal of Addiction (to Alcohol & Other Drugs) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Focuses on the compulsory treatment of alcoholism in the U.S. Background on the inebriety act established by the New York State legislature in 1910; Basis of the application for treatment under the U.S. Mental Health Act; Aims of treatment of an alcoholic in prison.

Focuses on a survey of the alcoholism-addiction unit in the Saint Bernard's psychiatric hospital. Admission capacity of the unit; Average ages of the various types of addicts on admission; Types of activities given to young addicts who were transferred to the unit.

Focuses on the establishment of the Cardiff Plan intended for alcoholics and their families in Wales. Services offered by social workers to alcoholics; Aims of the plan; Functions of the Adfer Unit recommended by the Standing Medical and Standing Mental Health Advisory Committee.

Overall the results after 9 weeks show an even greater degree of disorganization than was apparent during the first 2 weeks after the fire. A third of the sample could not be traced and many others were hospitalized following bouts of drinking. The men who did best were those who remained sober both before and immediately after the fire and retained employed. The isolated, unemployed and drinking men had a far worse outcome a Some recommendations as to how these men may be helped relate to what they needed and missed the most. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]