Medical Practice and the Alcoholic

Abstract

A positive attitude of the physician toward his alcoholic patient is an essential component of a satisfactory therapeutic relationship. Despite soci ety's recognition of alcoholism as a form of illness, the physician has been reticent to accept alcoholics as patients. Alcoholism has not been medically respectable; it has no well-defined etiology or therapy. The "special problem" community approach has permitted the practicing physician to feel justified in referring alco holics elsewhere. It is suggested that medicine's new emphasis on comprehensive care, the health team concept, and new therapeutic discoveries may permit the physician to view alcoholism as an interesting clinical entity.