Doctors urged to face problem of alcoholism

Press, 13 February 1979, Page 22

Doctors urged to face problem of alcoholism

PA .Auckland Doctors and the wider community must come out of their ivory towers and face the problems of treating alcoholics, a gathering of more than 50 general practitioners and specialists have been told. Dr John Moon, an Australian expert on alcoholism, said: “We cannot duck the responsibility. The doctor's role is crucial.”

The family doctor had to be convinced of his value. Dr Moon, a medical adviser to the Australian Liquor Advisory Council, said that the condemnation and indifference of the medical profession was passing. Dialogue was necessary between doctors and teams fighting the

neurotic illness of alcohol- * ism. Prejudice also had to be broken down, as did doctors’ fears about alco-. holies’ occupying beds in' hospitals.

New Zealand and Australia had to face the un., palatable fact that only a small increase in national consumption was serious, Dr Moon said.

To combat liquor promotion, alcohol education —‘ factual, low key, and with a minimum of scare tac- ’ tics — was needed. New Zealand had as many as 150,000 problem drinkers. The one-day course ow alcoholism was organised’ by' the National Society on Alcoholism and Drag Dependence and the postgraduate medical committee of Auckland University.