Comments

Episode-2764- Expert Council Q&A for 10-23-20 — 2 Comments

  1. Hello Jack,

    First, thanks for all you do.

    Second, should the show date be for 10-30-20?

    I hope the lids have a good Halloween.

    Regards,

  2. Regarding “when alcohol takes over your life”… I was a chaplain at Travis County Jail and I work with people with alcohol and drug problems. Doc Bones’ recommendations were good for most people struggling with habitual heavy drinking. However, I’ve seen alcoholics drink right through Antabuse, a drug that makes you sick immediately after drinking. While most normal people trying to kick a drinking habit would benefit from Antabuse, alcoholics generally will not. (FYI, I am not a doctor. I am only relating what I have experienced hanging around alcoholics.) Even if the Antabuse works for a time, an alcoholic will generally return to abusive drinking once the drug is removed.

    I believe that Jack’s recommendations were probably more useful for the alcoholic drinker. Jack was careful not to label the fellow an alcoholic and he may well not be one. Nevertheless, some listeners may have a serious alcohol problem which is why I am responding.

    A fellow I met last week (on Zoom) looked so bad that I recommended that he check himself into a medical rehab facility. His case seemed so serious that I feared for his life. In cases like that, competent medical care is needed. If he went into convulsions only a well-prepared medical staff could save him (maybe). I saw him today. He has stopped drinking but he hasn’t gone into rehab. He may well die the next time he takes a drink. (I mean one drink… like a beer.)

    For people who are not quite that bad, rehab can still be helpful. Rehab usually offers counseling, group therapy and they often invite Alcoholics Anonymous to run a meeting or two at their facility. Alcoholics Anonymous is a free, self-help spiritual program for alcoholics. They are not associated with any medical facility, nor any religion. They can be helpful if one is desperate enough. Alternately, many churches offer their own version of help for alcoholics and addicts. So do secular groups. One secular group is called Rational Recovery. Nevertheless, I know atheists who manage very well in Alcoholics Anonymous. No one is required to believe in G-d in AA. Perhaps that is why some churches felt compelled to offer their own version of help for the alcoholic.

    Whatever works. If one thing doesn’t work, try another. Just save your life.

    Alex Shrugged