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To the Editor: Recently a letter to the editor by me concerning alcoholism was published in the Deming paper. My statement that alcoholism is the greatest problem in any community should have stated the greatest social problem. I stated that in order to work ef fectively toward lessening the epidemic of alcoholism which now exists in the country, an altered intellectual climate or an altered mental climate is necessary. This altered mental climate is needed at the level of the community leadership and the general public. The leaders and the people will have to think in facts and not in myths concerning alcoholism to work effectively. No effort is going to stop the production of alcohol, nor is any kind of effort going to stop everyone from drinking of same. The disease of alcoholism is not going to be wiped out. But it can be effectively reduced. ‘The following common attitudes on alcoholism need to be reversed: 1. “There is no cause for alarm. It is only the weaklings who mess up their lives by alcohol abuse. We need merely to train our youth how to drink respon sibly. The facts are: Alcohol is a nar cotic drug. To drink in any form is to take a risk. To drink alcohol is a form of Russian Roulette because approximately nine per cent of all people who regulary drink alcohol develop the fatal disease of alcoholism. There is no sense saying, ‘I can drink it or leave it alone. Let the ones who can’t handle their drinks leave it alone. There is no knowing whether a particular person will be able to continue drinking responsibly over a long period of time, because of the insidious nature of the drug. Alcoholism does not attack weaklings. It attacks people from all walks of life. The idea of teaching in dividuals to drink responsibly is an ab surdity. People lose control of the drug without regard to the guidelines. There are twenty clear guidelines, any one of which provides a clear warning that a person is developing a drinking problem. But the determination always has to come from outside the individual. The victim will invariably rationalize and lie to himself and others about his progression into alcoholism. 2 I can't see alcoholism as a disease.’ Why Not? Alcoholism is a disease in the strictest sense of the word. 8 Disease that is incurable, and that is one hundred per cent fatal unless arrested. Think now! a progressive, fatal disease for which there is no cure, and can only be arrested by the victim's completely stopping drinking, 3. “But I don’t see alcoholism as all that big a thing. Community-minded people who are working in many ways to improve the social welfare of the area are not paying much attention to this alcoholism thing. Nor are they doing one thing about it. Isn’t that amazing? This is the area of greatest need in changing the mental climate on alcoholism. Try to realize this fact: Alcohol kills and cripples more people than war, or any other cause; it always has. Many other fatal diseases and a large percentage of accidents are caused by alcohol, directly or indirectly. Yes, alcohol abuse is big enough. 4. Well, there's nothing anyone can do about it, a person wants to drink that's his problem. He's only hurting himself. Sorry about that. Obviously not true. There is much can be done to bring a recovery in those who are caught in the malady. There is plenty can be done in heading off the disease in our young, or older early developers. Working with alcoholics can be emotionally, spiritually, and politically very unrewarding.. Drinking alcoholics are emotionally and mentally disturbed People. They are difficult and disruptive people. It requires patience and a special tact to work with them. Such work can be rewarding, depending upon the attitude of the helper. Sometimes the rewards are great. I have seen alcoholics mate a complete recovery, to the extent that they became useful citizens, became calm, serene and happy in their outlook, and in that they died without drinking again after their initial recovery STEVE JARNAGIN 8600'S, 1th St. Deming 50 YEARS AGO June 4, 1926 The Deming Headlight Fred Hassman, one of the substantial farmers of the valley, brought in a load of maize last week and took back a load of fuel oil. Just what the local gas war is about is difficult for the layman to understand, but the motorists getting his gas at 27 cents a gallon, which is satisfactory to him. Train 10%, which was due in Deming at about midnight, was annulled last Saturday night on account of a washout near Pecos, Tex, 25 YEARS AGO June R, 1831 The Deming Headlight: Leo Rein, arts and crafts instructor at DHS, entertained the local 20-30 club last Tuesday night with a 30-minute chalk talk consisting of cartoons and landscape scenes. Slim Helder furnished the background music for Rein. John P. Stephens, State College, has been hired by Luna County Coop to ad vise farmers on insect control during the crop growing season. He will work out of the county agent's office.
Newspaper Details
Deming Headlight
Deming, New Mexico, US
Thu, Jun 03, 1976
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
NA, 15 Jun 2026
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