Alcoholics ’need managers'

Press, 4 October 1977, Page 6

Alcoholics ’need managers'

About 60 patients at Sunnyside Hospital (one in 13) are permanently braindamaged by alcohol, according to the medical superintendent at Sunnyside Hospital (Dr T. E. Hall). Some of the blame for this could be attached to the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Act. Dr Hall told a meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital Board’s institutions committee yesterday. “Under the act a person can be committed to Sunnyside for up to two years, but retain management of his affairs,” said Dr Hall. “He can become chronically brain damaged in this way.” Most of those people were aged between 40 and 45, and were in good physical health. They could participate in clinical therapy sessions but be unable to remember what it was all about half an hour later. “There are ways and means these people can be cared for in the community. Management of their financial affairs should be taken from them, and put into the hands of a manager who would pay board and lodging and a clothing allowance. “The alcoholic could be given 75c a day for cigarettes and beer, and that’s all,” Dr Hall said. At present alcoholics were able to spend “largish amounts” of money—some of it from social welfare sources — and perhaps squander the family income.