Product Description

This invaluable work will contribute much to the battle against our number one disease."
--from the Foreword by George McGovern, former senator and author of Terry: My Daughter's Life-and-Death Struggle with Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a disease. It's time we started treating it like one.

Science has offered undisputed proof that alcoholism is a disease rather than a weakness of character, yet millions of alcoholics continue to suffer due to inappropriate treatment.  Now the co-author of the modern classic Under the Influence has teamed up with prominent alcoholism experts to provide new answers to this national epidemic.

Based on the latest scientific research, Beyond the Influence clearly explains the neurological nature of the disease and reveals why some people drink addictively and others do not.  It also spells out what needs to be done to treat alcoholism, including:
Steps to take for an intervention
How to find the right treatment program
Which psychological approaches work best
Why spirituality is essential to recovery
New insights into relapse prevention
What you should know about diet, exercise, and nontraditional treatments such as acupuncture
Provocative and eye-opening, compelling and compassionate, Beyond the Influence is not only a message of hope for alcoholics--it is a blueprint for saving lives.



BEYOND THE INFLUENCE explains that alcoholism is a disease of the body, not a weakness of character. Drawing on the latest scientific studies, the authors present new research on the central role of genetics and neurotransmitters in addiction. Continuing where the prior book left off, it also includes:

Steps for diagnosis and intervention, plus ways to prevent relapses
Various treatment models, including inpatient and out-patient programs and a review of new drug treatments
The most effective types of psychological counseling
The critical role of nutrition
Non-traditional healing methods for recovery
The importance of a spiritual component to recovery

The authors also critique our nation's alcoholism policies, including education and prevention programs, efforts to curtail college bingeing and underage drinking, and the advertising and marketing strategies of the alcohol industry. -->

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #49627 in Books
• Published on: 2000-04-04
• Released on: 2000-04-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

From Publishers Weekly
In the nearly 20 years since Ketcham coauthored Under the Influence, it has become a classic in identifying and treating alcohol addiction. Now, with new coauthor Asbury (an experienced journalist and "recovered" alcoholic), she restates much of her original material, with additional support from recent scientific research. The authors define alcoholism as "a genetically transmitted neurological disease," not the result of a character defect or moral weakness. They explain in exhaustive detail the effects of "the drug alcohol" on the human body and brain in both alcoholics and nonalcoholics. Clearly and concisely, they offer abundant information on such usually neglected topics as the importance of nutrition and identifying early to middle-stage symptoms of the disease. They also break with conventional wisdom in other ways, encouraging intervention rather than waiting for alcoholics to "hit bottom" and seek help on their own, and they label alcoholics with six years of sobriety as "recovered" rather than continually "recovering." The most surprising statistic here is the relatively small number of people who consume most of the alcohol sold; the authors level a stinging indictment of the "Big Alcohol" industry and its deceptive tactics. The glare of their harsh light also falls on the government (for failing to hold the alcohol industry accountable and for jailing alcoholics rather than getting them into treatment that works), and on doctors (for failing to identify the disease earlier and treat it as a hereditary biochemical disorder that requires medical and nutritional treatment). This book offers a plethora of timely information; a blow to old stigmas, myths and stereotypes; and hope for a future in which many senseless tragedies can be avoided and lives saved. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
This informative, levelheaded book draws on pioneering scientific work during the past 10 years to make the case for alcoholism as a disease. It isn't, however, wedded to that concept and deals fairly with other views of alcoholism. Literary quotations lighten the science as the book conveys the expansion of knowledge about how alcohol affects body and mind that the new understanding of the brain and nervous system has spurred. Armed with such understanding, the book points out, for example, why the term drinking and driving is more accurate than drunk driving: a driver doesn't have to be drunk to more easily get into an accident. Other intriguing new understandings include regarding the gene some associate with alcoholism as a disease as a reward gene rather than an alcogene, and responding to the question Is alcohol beneficial to your health? with a resounding in most circumstances, for most people, no. Much remains to be discovered; meanwhile, this valuable book reports current scientific knowledge. William Beatty

From Kirkus Reviews
A convincing argument for the medical model of alcoholism, with resulting recommendations for treatment. Ketcham (Under the Influence: A Guide to the Myths and Realities of Alcoholism, not reviewed), psychologist Ciaramicoli, and recovered alcoholics Asbury (former editor of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer) and Shulstad (cofounder of the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse counselors) maintain that alcoholism is a true medical disease rooted in abnormalities in brain chemistry. Alcoholics bodies simply respond differently to alcohol than everyone elsesa difference that is either rooted in genetics or acquired by intense and sustained exposure to alcohol. Alcoholism is not, they emphasize, a personality disorder or character defect. The authors examine what is known about the action of alcohol upon the body (both normal and alcoholic), then look at how a diagnosis of alcoholism can be established (most often, it is an inexact arta simple series of questions). They go on to explore the most effective treatments (first and foremost is lifelong abstinence from alcohol and drugs), particularly addressing the question of why a physical disease requires psychological and spiritual components in treatment. Finally, the authors name the beer, wine, and distilled-spirits industries as principal players in promoting our societys view of alcoholism as a psychological diseaseand propose educational, prevention, and treatment programs to institute change. A thorough, responsible presentation. -- Copyright ©2000, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Customer Reviews

Must Reading for Every Alcoholic
As a recovering alcoholic, 59 year old, professsional woman, this book has helped me tremendously. For over 20 years, I blamed my weak will-power for my inability to control my drinking. However,I have been successful in other areas of my life so I knew I did have a lot of self-discipline. This book helped convince me (and accept)that I am one of a minority of people who is genetically unable to drink alcohol moderately. The "brain research" documented in this book convinced me that many of the emotional problems that I experienced periodically in my early recovery were the result of the changes that alcohol had caused in my brain. I was able to expect some of the anxiety, sleep problems, depression, cravings, etc, and since I was prepared for them I was (am) able to deal with them. If you are still drinking or recovering, this book is full of information that will help you.

Wonderful Book reviewed by wife of (recovered) alcoholic
My husband has been dry for 2 years and I am very lucky that is the path he chose. When he checked himself in to a 30 day treatment program I ordered this book and about 10 others to try and better understand his disease. This was by FAR the best book I have read on this subject and it helped me immensely to understand and cope with his disease.
Having an alcoholic in your life is so difficult. Al-anon meetings and another book on Codependence helped me, but this book shed so much light on the nature of the beast I felt like I was up against and that is something I didn't really find anywhere else.
Best of luck and many blessings to you on this journey! I hope this book helps you too.
Namaste!

Too strong-willed succumb to alcoholism? Have a read!
I feel obliged to write a review, as this book has been instrumental in enabling me to "catch" my alcoholism in its early stages. ~10%+ of the population are born alcoholics; heavy drinking, esp in teen years, can bring it out in others. Alcoholism really is a progressive disease, not a matter of willpower. Ask yourself: Do you handle your alcohol well? Drink more now than a year ago? This book explains that alcoholism really is a PROGRESSIVE disease. Most alcoholics -- and budding alcoholics -- were born with a predisposition to it. Learn why a "strong will" won't help overcome this biological affliction, unless you stop drinking altogether. Understand why "moderation" will not work for the born alcoholic.