Pubdate: Thu, 03 Jan 2002 Source: Savannah Morning News (GA) Copyright: 2002 Savannah Morning News Contact: http://www.savannahnow.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/401 Author: Jean Burgstiner HELP TO SAVE THOSE WHO HAVE ADDICTIONS TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL I want to sound an alarm and send an urgent plea to anyone who may know someone addicted to alcohol or drugs: They need our help. They are unaware of the person they become when they indulge in their craving for a chemical that will produce behavior patterns wrapped in danger to themselves and others they come in contact with. A great percentage of all addicts are in denial that anything is wrong, yet alcohol is the No. 1 drug abused in the United States. As a person begins to consume alcohol, damage to the brain occurs -- the frontal lobe, where the judgment factor resides, is attacked -- and that disables the imbibing person. They become ill-equipped to make healthy decisions in regard to driving, operating machinery or about not drinking themselves into drunkenness and sometimes unconsciousness. They become a tool of destruction, not only to themselves, but to others. I urge anyone who knows one of these unfortunate victims to love them enough to take their car keys or to perform any other act of precaution that will arrest the behavior of their stupor. How sad it must be to obtain sobriety and be informed that you were the instrument that caused death of an innocent life. Much research is being done in this field, though. One program is developing a theory to determine in young children the potential for this malady. Candidates are chosen because of a history of this dread hereditary disease. Anyone not a victim of these addictions should be grateful. For those who are, if they could remove the disguise on every liquor bottle or mind-altering drug they would see a skull and crossbones. JEAN BURGSTINER - --- MAP posted-by: Beth