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Recent criticism of the applicability of the disease concept, the medical model and "loss of control", to alcoholism, all seem in part to be based on semantic "man-of-straw" arguments. If each of the terms "disease", "medical", "alcoholism", "loss of control" is equated with organic physical changes only, such criticism might perhaps be justified—with the proviso that knowledge on alcoholism at present is still far from complete. These criticisms, however, lose much of their basis if the terms "disease", "medical", "alcoholism", and "loss of control" are taken to include psychosomatic and psycho-social factors as well as physical ones. Medical men are concerned with psychological and social, as well as physical, conditions. If "loss of control" is viewed as a multi-factorial condition affected by psychological and social, as well as physico-chemical factors, the finding that under certain favourable psychological and social conditions some alcoholics can drink in moderation for shorter or longer periods, becomes easily understandable — this, however, by no means affects the basic applicability of the "loss of control" concept, the alcoholics' inability to drink safely in moderation for very long, and the advisability of adhering to the principle of total abstinence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the developmental process of alcohol addiction. Depiction of the whole process in form of a V-shaped chart in view of the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) 'rock-bottom' experience; Destruction of the widespread belief of a cure by means of some wonder drug; Step-by-step effort required from the alcoholic himself.

Presents several medical correspondence. Sedatives for alcoholics; Plight of Chilean doctors; Incidence of diarrhea among travelers.

Presents various letters regrading medicine related topics as of March 14976. Relationship between liquor licensing and public health; Evaluation of beta-blockers in anxiety and stress; Diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhage.

Comments on an editorial by Mark and Linda Sobell on controlled drinking published on the September 1995 issue of `Addiction.' Question on the relationship between moderation recovery and dependence severity; Problems from drinker's spouse; Comparison with abstinence approach; Skeptical attitude towards controlled drinking.

Presents several correspondence on medicine. Association between population growth and contraception in Africa; Radical solution to the drug problem; Death rate associated with general anesthesia in dental practice.

Presents correspondence in the February 1977 issue of the 'British Medical Journal.' Details on occupational exposure of doctors to inhaled anesthetics; Characteristics and prognosis of alcoholic doctors; Admission rate of patients experiencing self-poisoning with drugs; Role of general practitioner in labor management.

Presents several letters concerning medicine. Effect of lowering dosage of pindolol; Efficacy of tolamolol in the treatment of angina pectoris; Attitude of Scottish physicians and undergraduates toward alcoholism.

Presents correspondence on medical institute in Great Britain. Induction of labor and perinatal mortality; Management of severe poisoning by charcoal hemoperfusion; Variations in carboxyhemoglobin levels in smokers.

Presents a commentary on several issues related to medicine. Remarks on the series of articles on medical audit; Views on perinatal and neonatal mortality; Discussion on the need of pregnant women to attend for antenatal care.

Presents several letters concerning medicine. Effects of self-titration by cigarette smokers; Incidence of tetraplegia caused by gymnastics; Factors contributing to the psychosocial stress in pregnancy.

Presents several correspondents related to medicine in Great Britain. Evaluation of ultra-short dialysis; Prescription for a better British diet; Effect of once-daily atenolol on ambulatory blood pressure.

1. Urinary D-glucaric acid and serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity (G.G.T.P.) have been measured in alcoholics before commencement of alcohol withdrawal. Over half the patients were found to have increased excretion of glucaric acid in the absence of evidence of the use of known inducing agents other than alcohol. 2. Seventy-five per cent of the patients had raised levels of serum G.G.T.P., but no significant correlation was found between this enzyme and the glucaric acid excretion. [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.)

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.)