A Doctor's View of AA

THE INTERNIST or the general practitioner who is confronted with the problem of how to help the alcoholic whom he sees in his office or has recently detoxified from his latest binge, is too often in a dilemma as to how to proceed. Many communities have such facilities as alcoholic clinics, counseling services, and psychiatric facilities; others, however, do not have these facilities yet. In the latter case it is even more desirable for the physician to know how he can help his patient. The physician soon learns to differentiate between the sick, motivated alcoholic who sincerely wants help and the reluctant, non-motivated alcoholic. The former is, of course, the ideal patient, because help is readily accepted. The latter can be motivated, in some cases, by the physician's advice and handling of the situation.