Under the Influence

1

Every Human Soul

Every human soul is worth saving; but . . . if a choice is to be made, drunkards are about the last class to be taken hold of.

From Drunkenness a Vice, Not a Disease, by J. E. Todd, 1882

Bob is twenty-six years old and a talented songwriter. He says he drinks heavily for any number of reasons when he is depressed because his work is not progressing well, when he is elated because he finished a song, when he is frightened about his future, or when he is concerned about his financial problems.

When he drinks, he has problems. His car is scarred with dents and scratches from his erratic driving. He sometimes forgets what he did while he was drinking, and the next day he tries to piece together the night before. On one drunk, he broke his leg jumping over a fence. His wife takes a lot of verbal and emotional abuse when Bob drinks. After a New Year s Eve party, Bob was driving, drunk, and his wife asked him to let her drive. Furious, he stopped the car, leaned across her, opened the door, and pushed her out. Then he sped away, leaving her stranded on the highway.

After these episodes, Bob feels guilty and ashamed and vows to cut back on his drinking. He begs his wife s forgiveness, and together they try to understand what bothers him when he is drinking and why he cannot just stop after a few drinks. Bob thinks the problem is psychological. He tells his wife that his career is difficult and demanding; the ups are euphoric, he explains, but the downs are devastating. Anyone would drink in this work, he tells her; it just comes with the territory. His wife blames the heavy drinking and violent behavior on his upbringing. His mother was a big drinker and set a bad example; furthermore, she never gave her kids any love or affection. Bob is just insecure, his wife insists. He needs understanding and tender loving care. She knows that he is a sensitive, loving man, and she believes she can be most helpful by supporting and helping

A clinical psychologist, James R. Milam has been a national authority in the field of addiction for over thirty years. In addition to many scientific, professional, and public contributions, he has co-founded several model treatment programs, most notably the Lakeside-Milam Recovery Centers in Kirkland, Washington.
 
Katherine Ketcham has been writing nonfiction books for forty years. Her work has been published in sixteen foreign languages and has sold nearly one million copies. Ketcham lives in Walla Walla, Washington.

This new edition takes a bold stance from page one. Debra Jay, addiction specialist and author of It Takes a Family

This updated edition of the enduring classic should be in every doctor s office, judge s chambers, and counselor s office. It remains a tremendous teaching tool, and one of the best books on the subject I know. In my five decades training medical students on how to diagnose and treat alcoholism and addiction, this has been an amazing resource, and I continue to recommend this volume to my students and patients alike. Nicholas A. Pace, M.D., F.A.S.A.M.­­

Milam and Ketcham s newest version brings the clarity of the original with still greater currency­­­­­ and urgency. Whether you re a student learning the clinical aspects of alcoholism, a treatment professional working in the field a long time, or an individual trying to get some personal answers, there s plenty in this edition of Under the Influence to review, relearn, unlearn, and fascinate. . . . It is sure to become well read and well worn right alongside its predecessor. Kevin McCauley, M.D.

The reissuance of Under the Influence could not have come up at a more perfect time. The current pandemic has resulted in skyrocketing alcoholism, and the need for the original findings along with the latest research and expanded resources is essential to all who have been impacted. Under the Influence is a must-read for judges, prosecutors, and all stakeholders in the justice system who deal with these issues every day. Susan Broderick, program director at the National District Attorneys Association, former assistant district attorney, Manhattan DA s Office

A classic work, now revised and updated for future generations. Richard Ries, M.D.

Under the Influence is a classic in the addiction recovery field and has helped countless families. This new edition is a winner. It will bring hope and healing to all who read it. . . . Highly recommended.