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Dear Readers:
I am convinced that there are many of this
column's readers are quietly concerned about their
own alcohol or other drug use. Most people in
our society, in spite of all scientific evidence
to the contrary, consider addiction as a moral
weakness, not as the brain disease it really is.
Because of resultant feelings of shame and fear
of exposure, most of the afflicted keep their
underlying fears secret. Result: Even in our supposedly
enlightened society, 95% of individuals
suffering from an addiction eventually die from
their illness, unrecognized and untreated.
Perhaps
the following information, quoted from an article
printed in the newsletter of the American society
of Addiction Medicine (ASAMNews), will encourage
more people who have been hiding their concerns
to save their own lives or that of a family member
or friend by contacting an appropriate health
professional who will treat and maintain strict
confidentiality.
"AlcoholScreening.org,
is a new Web site that helps lay persons understand
the effects of alcohol on personal health and
well-being. The site successfully screened more
than 10,000 users in its first 30 days of operation,allowing
them to take a confidential self-test to assess
their alcohol use patterns and receive personalized
feedback. Visitors then find out whether their
alcohol consumption appears to be within safe
limits, risky, or harmful to their health. The
Web site is a free service of "Join Together",
a project of the Boston University School of Public
Health, underwritten by a grant from the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation."
AlcoholScreening.org
also features answers to frequently asked
questions about alcohol and health, links to on-line
and off-line support resources, and a database
of more than 12,000 local treatment programs throughout
the U.S.
"
'Our premise was that ordinary people who may
have concerns about their own alcohol consumption
would welcome the opportunity to learn in a confidential
and convenient setting on the Internet,' said
David Rosenbloom, director of Join Together. 'The
fact that more than 10,000 people have completed
the on-line questionnaire in such a short time
shows that our prediction was right: there is
a demand for accurate and succinct information
on alcohol and health,' Adding, 'About 15% of
the users go on to find more information after
completing the screening.' " The site was
launched April 2, during national Alcohol Awareness
Month, when the public was encouraged to learn
more about alcohol. (Source: Join Together,
May 7, 2001.)
The
<AlcoholScreening.org> home page focuses
on the visitor's possible questions: Am I drinking
safely? Will alcohol cause problems for me later?
Is drinking harming my health now?
Noting
that, "Among people who drink alcoholic beverages
(beer, wine, or liquor), most consume safe and
healthy amounts. For others, unsafe drinking patterns
increase their risk for injury, illness or future
alcohol problems. And, for 1 in 13 American adults,
alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence (alcoholism)
causes substantial harm to their health and disruption
in their lives.
"If
you consume alcoholic beverages, it's important
to know whether your drinking patterns are safe,
risky or harmful. This site can help you find
out. You can assess your own drinking, learn about
alcohol and health issues, and find resources
for additional help."
I
have visited the web-site and can testify that
it offers an excellent screening test; the resulting
advice is right on; and it is able to provide
the names, addresses (even maps), phone numbers,
and links to web-sites of treatment centers (including
that of the Van Ost Institute) located anywhere
in the country. If you are at all concerned about
yourself, a friend, or a family member go to <alcoholscreening.org>
TODAY.
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