In 1981, United Press International published an article by Charles S. Taylor
titled “First Year Crucial for Reformed Alcoholics”
[left: from Dubois (PA) Courier Express, 30 Dec 1981, p. 8], reported on a study involving 439 alcoholics who were members of
Alcoholics Anonymous and had been sober for at least one year. The study was
conducted by
Dr. LeClair Bissell
[right], who, as President, led the American Society of
Addiction Medicine*
and worked with alcoholics at
Edgehill Newport
[left], a treatment center in Newport, Rhode Island.
The article described the research as “the first long-term study of a large group of alcoholics” and noted it had “reached an encouraging conclusion—most chronic drinkers who can stay off booze for one year have a good chance at continued sobriety.” Dr. Bissell said that alcoholics who receive counseling for their problem and abstain for a year usually don’t touch alcohol again for up to seven years. She also observed that abstinence seems to help alcoholics stop smoking, reduce suicidal behavior, reduce encounters with the police and significantly lower hospitalizations for any reason. Dr. Bissell strongly criticized psychologists who try to return recovered alcoholics to “social drinking,” saying, “I think they’re killing a lot of people by encouraging them to return to drinking.”
Dr. Bissell was also a member of the Carter Mental Health Commission’s Task Force on Alcoholism, founder of
International Pharmacists Anonymous
[right: logo], and co-author of
The Cat Who Drank Too Much (1982)
[left: cover].
*Misnamed as "American Society on Alcoholism" in the article.
Dr. LeClair Bissell
[right], who, as President, led the American Society of
Addiction Medicine*
and worked with alcoholics at
Edgehill Newport
[left], a treatment center in Newport, Rhode Island. The article described the research as “the first long-term study of a large group of alcoholics” and noted it had “reached an encouraging conclusion—most chronic drinkers who can stay off booze for one year have a good chance at continued sobriety.” Dr. Bissell said that alcoholics who receive counseling for their problem and abstain for a year usually don’t touch alcohol again for up to seven years. She also observed that abstinence seems to help alcoholics stop smoking, reduce suicidal behavior, reduce encounters with the police and significantly lower hospitalizations for any reason. Dr. Bissell strongly criticized psychologists who try to return recovered alcoholics to “social drinking,” saying, “I think they’re killing a lot of people by encouraging them to return to drinking.”
Dr. Bissell was also a member of the Carter Mental Health Commission’s Task Force on Alcoholism, founder of
International Pharmacists Anonymous
[right: logo], and co-author of
The Cat Who Drank Too Much (1982)
[left: cover].*Misnamed as "American Society on Alcoholism" in the article.
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