IS EDUCATION THE ANSWER?

White Ribbon, Volume 27, Issue 4, 1 August 1955, Page 1

IS EDUCATION THE ANSWER?

"Civilized society can uikl bo Rfide »n the tart tn.it it allows so many of its members to debauch themselves with a powerful drug. Not only does society allow to happen, but it actuall\ courages indulgence in alcohol by making it eas'h accessible to everyone, and by surrounding its use with practically no safeguards. The public not demand that alcohol be controlled, as are other powerful drugs." writes Dr, L C. Coffin of Australia

"Yet alcohol does more harm individually and socially than all the other narcotics combined," he continues. "Other drr-gs purchasable are labelled as to contents, possible harmful effects, overdosage. and so on. But aicohol brazenly masquerades as an innocent and beneficial beverage. "Here is a social problem of significant protions. It is a grave public-health problem. What the answer' What is being done? Some research has been conducted on the effects of alcoholism, but far less than on other publichealth problems What is being done in education I Numerous reports from all parts of the country say that teaching on the subject in schools is perfunctory, inadequate or non-existent. "Vet education is our only hope. There is M other way to conquer this ancient enemy of man. The schools and colleges must inform themselves concerning alcohol and the problem it They must come to teach young people the facts revealed by medical research. They must impress on the mind of youth that alcohol is a dangerous drug best left strictly alone "The ancient error that alcohol || a stimulant dies hard. It is difficult to convince one who knows nothing of the physiologic-'! chemistry involved that the mad carers of the intoxicated person are the result of narcosis. The average person is not afraid of a stimulant hut he i< afraid of a narcotic.

WE MUST FACE THE ISSUE REALISTICALLY

"But it the schools did an effective job of education about alcohol, would that solve the problem? Probably not completely. Out from the schools would still go numbers of unstable individuals, poorly adjusted lo life, who would demand an escape from then frustrations, fixations and phobias Alcohol constitute! the quickest, cheapest and most easih accessible escape. "Can education dr. anything about this? I believe it can, iaj| Dr. Coffin "First, it can train young people to find K-ss destructive avenues of escape channels Second, it can educate for me"i.;l qnd emotional stability Much evidence is accumulal ng that neurotics and psychotici are more often made than born, even starting in childhood The rvaiit 'eacher trained in the concepts of mental hygiene often can correct these incipient deviations of the psyche and*prevent much adult maladjustment.

"It is conceivable that a generation thoroughly conversant with the facts about alcohol woulH demand that this habit-forming narcotic be restricted to its legitimate purpoi

"The challenge that beverage alcohol flings in the teeth of our civilisation is one that education cannot continue to ign >re Sooner or later the iMOe will have to Ik faced realistically. With the two-fold attack just outlined, .the challenge can net. The duty of the schools is clear. Teach the facts, unemotionally and scientifically; create the proper attitude; train young people to be wellintegrated personalities with constructive emotional patterns and a well-developed sense of social responsibiht

"The battle wiii be bug and hard. It will have to be fought continuously atid unflaggingly. But with theM objectives' held tenaciously before it. any nation can win through to victorv "