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by John L. Norris, MD

January 1976

All of us interested in alcoholism and the problems of alcohol have been puzzled, frustrated, and at times angered by the lack of understanding or even of interest on the part of the helping professions, especially medicine. A few pioneers in medicine—Silkworth, Tiebout, Kennedy, Gehrmann, Seixas, Block, Gitlow, among others in the United States—have understood and done much to soften the prejudice that has been a major handicap to alcoholics’ recovery.

Many members of AA have gone back to the physician, clergyman, or other person who tried to help them, and have told of their recovery. This has opened many doors, and I continue to urge AA members, in every way I can, to identify themselves as individuals recovering from alcoholism wherever and whenever the disclosure seems opportune.

When AA members and others who have recovered from alcoholism do this, it is my hope that they will talk about the part of their experience most difficult to talk about—the way they felt, as people, while they were trying unsuccessfully to “handle” their drinking. Rarely, if ever, is this mentioned. How can professional people understand the disease unless those who are the victims will honestly and completely describe their symptoms and their feelings?—describe, for example, how they hated themselves for breaking their promises to themselves and to their families, their employers, and their friends. I can think of nothing that will help as much as this to create the understanding, working relationship we all desire between the “caring professions” and people who are in trouble with alcohol.

Sponsor your doctor, your clergyman, your lawyer, your boss, a social worker, a policeman. They need the knowledge and understanding that only you can give as you tell them honestly your own experience. Let us stop criticizing each other and get on with the job of meeting our common problem, alcoholism.