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Under the Influence: A Guide to the Myths and Realities of Alcoholism [Mass Market Paperback]

James Robert Milam , Katherine Ketcham
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)

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Book Description

June 1, 1984
Ten of millions Americans suffer from alcoholism, yet most people still wrongly believe that alcoholism is a psychological or moral problem, and that it can be cured by psychotherapy or sheer will power. Based on groundbreaking scientific research, Under The Influence examine the physical factors that set alcoholics and non-alcoholics apart, and suggests a bold, stigma-free way of understanding and treating the alcoholic.

How to tell if someone you know is an alcoholic.

The progressive stages of alcoholism.

How to get an alcoholic into treatment -- and how to choose a treatment program.

Why frequently prescribed drugs can be dangerous -- even fatal -- for alcoholics.

How to ensure a lasting recovery.

Frequently Bought Together

Under the Influence: A Guide to the Myths and Realities of Alcoholism + Beyond the Influence: Understanding and Defeating Alcoholism + If You Loved Me, You'd Stop! What You Really Need to Know When Your Loved One Drinks Too Much
Price for all three: $30.28

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Vital, simple, world-changing information." -- Co-Evolution Quarterly

"Under The Influence will advance by light years the understanding of alcoholism and the recovery process." -- Mel Schulstad, Cofounder, National Association of Alcoholism Counselors

From the Publisher

Ten of millions Americans suffer from alcoholism, yet most people still wrongly believe that alcoholism is a psychological or moral problem, and that it can be cured by psychotherapy or sheer will power. Based on groundbreaking scientific research, Under The Influence examine the physical factors that set alcoholics and non-alcoholics apart, and suggests a bold, stigma-free way of understanding and treating the alcoholic.

How to tell if someone you know is an alcoholic.

The progressive stages of alcoholism.

How to get an alcoholic into treatment -- and how to choose a treatment program.

Why frequently prescribed drugs can be dangerous -- even fatal -- for alcoholics.

How to ensure a lasting recovery.

"Vital, simple, world-changing information." -- Co-Evolution Quarterly

"Under The Influence will advance by light years the understanding of alcoholism and the recovery process." -- Mel Schulstad, Cofounder, National Association of Alcoholism Counselors


Product Details

  • Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Bantam (June 1, 1984)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0553274872
  • ISBN-13: 978-0553274875
  • Product Dimensions: 4.3 x 0.7 x 6.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Alcoholism is a disease like diabetes. Clara M Pettitt  |  15 reviewers made a similar statement
His book is an updated, well researched and knowledgeable study on alcoholism. barbaracarter  |  7 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
164 of 169 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Still ahead of its time February 10, 2004
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I find the comments that the book is out of date sad, because the vast majority of alcoholism treatment programs as well as public opinion have not yet caught up to this book.

Milam advances several important concepts:

1. Alcoholism is a disease like diabetes. Psychology and morality play no role, except in the alcoholic's reaction emotionally to the consequences of the disease [hiding it, seeking help, etc.] If you think this view of alcoholism is completely accepted now, try telling your boss you are an alcoholic.

2. Milam then explains HOW alcoholism is a disease in fascinating detail. Alcoholics are not addicted to alcohol, but to a complex physical process that happens when they drink. Basically, the alcoholic's body reacts to the presence of alcohol in the body differently from that of a "normal" person, and no amount of counseling/threats/religious conversions can change that.

3. Alcoholics may not know when to save themselves, and may need help [he shoots down the "hitting bottom" myth]. Do you wait for a diabetic to go into a coma before you help them?

4. Treatment for the alcoholic must address the poor state of the alcoholic's health and nutrition. Alcoholic tremors, shaking, illusions, paranoia, etc. are caused by alcoholic malnutrition. Alcohol strips the body of water soluble vitamins, particularly the crucial B vitamins, and prevents the liver and other organs from repairing the body.

The one section of the book I don't agree with concerns the role of government/public agencies in alcoholism treatment. Milam expects too much of them. But that does not affect the brilliance of this book.

In the reviews here, there are some criticisms that Milam describes only "worst case" scenarios. That is not correct. He clearly describes all the stages of alcoholism, from the "I just want to have fun" stage to the lying in the gutter stage, and he recognizes that the disease progresses differently in people.

As an alcoholic who has been sober for twenty years, I can't recommend this book enough. It provides hard information, not moralizing.

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103 of 109 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars One of Only a Few "Essential" Books on Alcoholism October 19, 2000
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I've authored four books on alcoholism, including Drunks, Drugs & Debits: How to Recognize Addicts and Avoid Financial Abuse and Alcoholism Myths and Realities: Removing the Stigma of Society's most Destructive Disease. This was one of perhaps at most a dozen books that were instrumental in helping me develop my ideas.

Under the Influence is a magnificent book. It thoroughly debunks the "mental health model" of addiction that misinforms so many. That alcoholism is biological is supported by the authors' detailed and thorough explanation of brain poisoning and adaptation to the drug we call alcohol. It is clear that this poisoning causes the alcohol addict to engage in destructive behaviors, both during and in-between drinking episodes.

The stages of alcoholism are beautifully described. The fact that there is an early stage vastly different from latter stages, makes sense of what seems a paradox: the high-functioning alcoholic. As few as one in a thousand observers ever identify these as such. This is terribly unfortunate, since the behaviors of the early stage addict can be so destructive and adversely affect so many.

There is a superb explanation of the nutritional damage that all alcoholics experience, along with the now well-known sugar connection. Under the Influence contains an excellent summary of diseases found in latter-stage alcoholics, including cancer and heart disease. At the same time, it has one of the best summaries that can be found of the behavioral signs and symptoms of addiction, including those that can be observed in early-stage alcohol addicts (which I describe in far greater detail in How to Spot Hidden Alcoholics: Using Behavioral Clues to Recognize Addiction in Its Early Stages. The fact that medical doctors often feed the addiction with other drugs is addressed, a clue to the idea that identification of alcoholics is, perhaps, best done at the grassroots level, by those who live with it (which I explain in great depth in Drunks, Drugs & Debits: How to Recognize Addicts and Avoid Financial Abuse.

This wonderful book has an excellent discussion of intervention and the reasons we don't need to wait for the addict's life to completely fall apart (and why it may be dangerous to the non-addict observer to delay). A proper professionally-aided intervention could include the employer and/or criminal justice system, and may be the more successful because of such involvement.

Finally, there is an illuminating discussion of the disease concept and the fact that the alcoholic must be held responsible. He must be counseled that he has a disease that causes him to process the drug differently than do non-addicts, and this differential processing results in the destructive behaviors that the rest of us bear the brunt of. One may reasonably conclude that he must be required to experience consequences for his drinking, which I dub "uncompromising disenabling" in Drunks, Drugs & Debits: How to Recognize Addicts and Avoid Financial Abuse.

Under the Influence may be 20 years old. However, its message and the vast majority of the research that went into it is timeless. I have read over 100 books on the subject. This is one of, perhaps, only seven or eight absolutely essential books on alcoholism. Because alcohol addiction affects everyone, it should be owned by all.
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33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I have now read five books on this subject, due to family members and a dear friend being alcoholics. This is the most readable, "states it like it is," book I have read. Many, many questions are answered when reading this book. For me, of particular interest, was Chapter Five, wherein "The Protracted Withdrawal Syndrome" is described...it explains my friend exactly, and the doctors (three so far) are not picking up on his being in this stage, even tho they know he is an alcoholic! The information on types of food is especially good, and the authors are correct, that FEW (if any) doctors discuss the very important role of nutrition counseling!! I am getting three of these for family and friends and feel it will really help them understand others and themselves. I am most pleased to see that it is still in print. I got my copy from a friend about a year ago and just started re-reading it and realized it just "hits the bullet" as the saying goes, and is one that the alcoholism counselor (that originally gave it to me), had UNDERLINED and highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Necessary Reading
This book was written for anyone and everyone! Are you an alcoholic? Is your friend, son, or daughter an alcoholic? Read more
Published 1 month ago by "rmoore624"
4.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful
The book really helps you sort out your fears from your concerns. I read it as an ebook, then bought the hard copy for a friend.
Published 1 month ago by Gail Thompson
4.0 out of 5 stars Best discription ever
This provides the best discription of the progression of alcoholism I have ever read. Good reading for anyone dealing with an alcoholic.
Published 2 months ago by Enoch
5.0 out of 5 stars good book
It is hard to describe alcohol as a "need" to someone who has no problems with it. This book tries to bridge the gap between drinkers and non drinkers.
Published 3 months ago by Richard Hines
5.0 out of 5 stars Helped me understand myself............
As a man who suffered from the guilt of things I did while "Under the Influence" I got a lot of piece of mind from this book. Read more
Published 3 months ago by F. Drew Leyda
4.0 out of 5 stars Under the Influence: A Guide to the Myths and Realities of Alcoholism
I haven't finished it yet. It was suggested reading for my Substance abuse curriculum for which I am studying. Thanks.
Published 3 months ago by Pamela Hammers
5.0 out of 5 stars great condition
got this used for .01 plus 4.00 shipping i still saved about 3 dollars, i can read the pages and they are all intact, nothing to complain about its just a book. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Alex
5.0 out of 5 stars EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ALCOHOLISM
As a former substance abuse counselor I can tell you the science is the same and the information is sound in this book. Read more
Published 3 months ago by David E. Aeh
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for understanding how alcohol makes an alcoholic.
Wonderful book for alcoholics trying to understand the disease and also great for the family of an alcoholic, making sense of of very complex disease.
Published 4 months ago by Sheila Brink
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommend
I highly recommend this book to gain a better understanding of the subject matter. It starts by breaking down what alcohol really is, who it affects the brain and body, and all... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Elizabeth Ayala
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