Katherine Ketcham - Beyond the Influence: Understanding and Defeating Alcoholism

Five years have passed since my daughter Terry left a Christmas-festooned Wisconsin bar, stumbled into a snowbank, and froze to death. Coming from a family of four daughters and a son, Terry had struggledand her family had struggled with herto overcome her alcohol addiction for most of her adult life. One of the paradoxes of Terrys life is that despite the dreadful affliction of alcoholism, which was complicated by depression, she was a lovable, compassionate, witty, intelligent human being. She was a devoted mother who left two daughters, now twelve and fourteen, who are living with their father in Florida. They are both doing straight A work in school, except for frequent A-pluses. All indications are that they are happy, well-adjusted, talented girls.

After Terrys death at Christmastime 1994, I began a search to discover why this daughter with whom I was especially close became so seriously addicted to alcohol that it dominated her life. Was it my fault?

Why wasnt I more aware that alcoholism is a fatal disease if not brought under control? Had I neglected my children because of my preoccupation with politics, foreign policy, and travel? In view of the frequent incidence of alcoholism in the McGovern clan going back generations, should I have been more alert to the genetic danger of alcoholism? Or is this a myththe notion that alcoholism is a disease that might be transmitted genetically? Is it possible that Terry became an alcoholic simply because she didnt have the self-discipline to regulate her alcohol intake sensibly? And if that is true, did I contribute to my daughters death by not teaching her how to live a disciplined life? After all, over the years my wife, Eleanor, and I have dropped by countless Washington cocktail parties, had a drink, and gone home or out to dinner without any problems. Why couldnt we have taught precious Terry to do the same?

In trying to come to terms with these questions, I came across a book that I wish with all my heart I had read when Terry was aliveUnder the Influence: A Guide to the Myths and Realities of Alcoholism, coauthored by Dr. James R. Milam and Katherine Ketcham. This book made more sense to me than any other I had read on the subject of alcoholism. It was a pioneering book when it was published in 1981 and now it is a classic. If I could have only one book in my personal library on the subject of alcoholism, this is the one I would take.

Colonel Mel Schulstad captured the essence of the Milam-Ketcham book in his foreword:

Under the Influence closely points out that the accumulated evidence from all the life sciences positively indicates that physiology, not psychology, determines whether a drinker will become addicted to alcohol or not. The alcoholics genes, enzymes, hormones, brain and other body chemistries work together to create his or her abnormal and unfortunate reaction to alcohol.

As Colonel Schulstad pointed out at the time, that point of view was not shared by a majority of alcohol treatment professionals, who tend to see alcoholism as an outgrowth of psychological factors. Anecdotal evidence is not conclusive, but I cite the case of my daughter, who went through five years of psychotherapy while a student at the University of Virginia and extensive follow-up counseling in Madison, Wisconsin. Meanwhile, her alcoholism worsened. Not until she became active in Alcoholics Anonymous did she achieve eight years of sobriety.

But now comes the needed companion volume to Under the InfluenceBeyond the Influence: Understanding and Defeating Alcoholism. This book is perfectly named because it builds upon but carries well beyond the first volume. It contains nearly twenty years of scientific findings that have become available since 1981. It makes a powerful and nearly irrefutable case for the view that alcoholism is a disease which attacks some people because of their genetic heritage.

No one who wants to be conversant with a scientific approach to alcoholism can fail to own this book. This invaluable work will contribute much to the battle against our number one disease.

George McGovern

Fall 1999

INTRODUCTION

The philosophers have interpreted the world in
different waysthe task is to transform it.

KARL MARX

Alcoholism is a disease characterized by abnormalities in brain chemistry. Susceptibility to this disease can spring from many factors, but one of the most significant is that of genetic transmission. If you inherit certain genetic mutations, you will be at risk for developing alcoholism if you drink. These are the simple facts.

We have written this book in an attempt to present the known facts about alcoholism. We hope to dispel the prevailing myths and misconceptions and create some calm in what has for many decades been a tempestuous storm of controversy about the nature of this disease and its victims. We believe it is possible to get beyond the influence of the drug alcohol and the pain and suffering it causes for so many millions of people all over the world.

Our qualifications for writing this book are diverse:

Katherine Ketcham is a nonfiction writer, who has coauthored eleven books including Under the Influence: A Guide to the Myths and Realities of Alcoholism (Bantam, 1983) with James R. Milam, Ph.D., and The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Journey to Wholeness (Bantam, 1992) with Ernest Kurtz, Ph.D. Both books are considered classics in the alcoholism literature.

William F. Asbury is a journalist and former editor in chief of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. After retiring from the newspaper business, Bill served as director of the Washington State Office of International Relations and chief of protocol for Washington Governors John Spell-man and Booth Gardner. He was appointed by Governor Mike Lowry to help write new ethics and campaign finance laws for the state. He was then appointed to the states Legislative Ethics Board and elected chairman of that board. Bill has lectured and written frequently about the need for changes in alcohol policies at all levels of government.