THE “FAMILY DISEASE”
Work 0£ Al-Anon Described Describing alcoholism as a “family disease.” a woman called Heather told a public meeting on Saturday of the work of Al-Anon. The organisation is made up of the wives of alcoholics. “When he is ready to get better, the alcoholic is 50 per cent, sick, the wife is 60 per cent. sick, and young children are 10 per cent, sick.” Heather said. "We don t try to understand the alcoholic. We have the same 12 steps, and the idea is to get ourselves right and stay that way. That is the only contribution we can give to our alcoholic partner. “We married each other for better or for worse, and we need each other.” Heather said. She described some of her own experiences, including having her husband follow her from room to room trying to pick arguments so that he could have an excuse to drink. She also described how she changed her attitude in order to live happily with he sick husband. “You can’t tell an alcoholic anything drunk or sober: but be sure that when they fall off the waggon, you don’t fall off with them.” she advised.
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Press, Volume C, Issue 29699, 18 December 1961, Page 25
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197THE “FAMILY DISEASE” Press, Volume C, Issue 29699, 18 December 1961, Page 25
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