Some states in the USA have arrangements whereby drunken drivers have to attend a course on alcohol and alcoholism. They learn about drinking and about the symptoms of alcoholism. Those among them who have a drink problem are encouraged to get help. Judges can also sentence an offender to a compulsory course of, say, thirty Alcoholics Anonymous meetings or to a specific course of rehabilitation in a treatment centre, as an alternative to a fine or prison.

None of these sentencing alternatives exists in Britain. Magistrates can and often do recommend Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous from the bench, but it remains their personal suggestion.

Nearly all prisons in Britain have regular meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous are just beginning to hold their meetings in prison too. If you are a probation officer, prison visitor or magistrate, it is imperative to suggest these meetings to the offender.

We believe it would be money well spent to set up programmes for addicts and alcoholics within the prison system. As it is, too many of these ill people receive no help at all, and come out of prison only to go back on drugs and drink. Soon they commit more crimes to support their habit. Society is the loser when their illness goes untreated.

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Many professional people try to offer easier solutions – not least because addicts and alcoholics often refuse point blank to do without any drugs at all. We all want to be liked by others – even by our clients. There is therefore a strong temptation not to confront addicts and alcoholics with the unpleasant truth. It’s not cricket to be too explicit – except about cricket!

As a result, an alcoholic may be told to try to cut down his drinking rather than to cease altogether – something that he cannot in the long term achieve. Many professional people who are social drinkers themselves simply cannot grasp the idea that an alcoholic cannot drink moderately in the long term. Or they advise the alcoholic to cut down or go without alcohol for only a certain amount of time, with the promise that he can drink again. All this does is make the alcoholic fit enough to drink again – and it is just what any alcoholic wants to hear, though deep down he knows it’s a lie.

Fortunately, heroin addicts are not told they can use their drug in moderation. It is far more likely that they may be told that cannabis, tranquillisers or alcohol cannot harm them as

much -advice that is based simply on ignorance or on the adviser’s wishful thinking.

Quite often, when alcoholics or addicts are faced by the hard truth, they react with anger and self-pity. This is part of the inner denial that is characteristic of almost all alcoholics and addicts. It takes personal courage to tell them that their drug or drink habit will only get worse unless they stop all mood-altering drugs. It also takes courage to refuse to help unless they do something serious about their drinking or drug-using. Yet refusing to help is the kindest thing to do. In the long term it is no help just to ‘paint over the rust’.

When an addict or an alcoholic is willing to stop drugs or drink, it is important strongly to recommend frequent attendance at NA or AA meetings. A lukewarm suggestion will be ineffective. Research has shown that when the therapist warmly and firmly recommends these organisations, the addict or alcoholic is much more likely to follow the recommendation. Remember, addicts and alcoholics need help not just to stop but to stay stopped for ever.

Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are not just for ‘last-hope’ cases. Nor are they solely for middle-class clients. These myths abound because a staggering number of those who deal with alcoholics and addicts have never gone to an AA or NA meeting.

We believe that those who treat addicts and alcoholics for their problem should go to at least twenty AA or NA meetings. Anything less than this means that they miss the best opportunity of learning how to help others.

You must familiarise yourself properly with what these two organisations are doing, how they work, and the kind of people you meet in them. Both NA and AA have open meetings to which outsiders are welcome. It is unprofessional to let personal embarrassment or shyness get in the way of doing this.

By doing it, you can also build up a network of NA or AA contacts in your local area, which can help you a great deal when dealing with clients.

Those who have only occasional dealings with addicts or alcoholics should also go to a number of NA or AA meetings. When they have done this, they are in a much better position to give help. Most professionals who go to these meetings find them absolutely fascinating!

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