home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
CD ROM Paradise Collection 4
/
CD ROM Paradise Collection 4 1995 Nov.iso
/
edu
/
alco21.zip
/
INTRO.DOC
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1995-07-16
|
5KB
|
70 lines
INTRODUCTION
Alcoholism costs the United States about 60 billion dollars
per year in lost work, medical expenses, property damage, and
welfare services. (THE ENCYCLOPEDIA AMERICANA, International ed.
(1990), s.v. "Alcoholism," by Roger F. Meyer, M. D.).
It is possible to die from an overdose of alcohol. Sandy,
the son of Roy and Dale Rogers, was talked into drinking by some
of his Army buddies and died from an overdose of alcohol. [Dale
Evans Rogers, SALUTE TO SANDY (Westwood, NJ: Fleming H. Revel
Co., 1967)].
The cost of human suffering cannot be measured in dollars,
but must be included. An alcohol-related traffic death occurs
every 20 minutes. Alcohol causes about 100,000 deaths per year.
About 90 percent of unwanted pregnancies result from alcohol-
lowered inhibitions. About 36 percent of suicide victims have a
history of alcohol abuse or were drinking shortly before taking
their own lives. [Ben Mitchell, "The Works of the Flesh"
(Galatians 5:19)--Church bulletin insert published by the
Christian Life Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, 901
Commerce, #550, Nashville, TN 37203-3696]. In addition, one must
add the spiritual--how does one calculate the value of a lost
soul?
It is estimated that 70 percent of all male adults drink,
and that about 58 percent of all women drink. [Jerry G. Dunn,
GOD IS FOR THE ALCOHOLIC (Chicago: Moody Press, 1965), p. 48].
By the time students reach their senior year in school, 90
percent have tried alcohol. Alcohol is the leading drug abuse
problem of our youth. [WHAT WORKS: SCHOOLS WITHOUT DRUGS
(Washington, DC: US Department of Education, 1992), p. 8].
Polls indicate that 4 percent of high school seniors drink
alcohol every day. [GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT'S GUIDE TO
PREVENTION (Washington, DC: US Department of Education, [1990?]),
p. 3].
Alcohol-involved accidents are the number one killer of our
youth, ages 15-24 years of age. (Ibid). Alcohol is involved in
50 percent of youth killed by drowning, fire, suicide, and
murder. (Ibid).
Teen Challenge is probably the most effective drug treatment
program today, with an 86 percent cure rate. Teen Challenge was
started by David Wilkerson in New York City, February 1958. The
beginnings of this movement is chronicled in Wilkerson's THE
CROSS AND THE SWITCHBLADE, which became a 20 million best seller
and a movie. (David Manuel, "Teen Challenge: Conquering Drugs,"
THE SATURDAY EVENING POST, December 1987). I was privileged to
serve as Chairman of the David Wilkerson Crusade on Tarleton
State University campus in Stepheville, Texas, October 1973.
Alcoholics Anonymous is an effective alcohol abuse program
with a 75 percent cure rate. I became personally acquainted with
AA while serving as an Army Chaplain. The military social life
promotes moderate drinking, and this legal drug is easily abused.
Rapha is another effective alcohol abuse program in a
hospital setting.
Alcoholism has personally affected my life. My father died
indirectly from drug abuse. Two uncles and an aunt were
alcoholics.
But for the providence of God, I could have become an
alcoholic. I had been converted in Victory Missionary Baptist
Church, Gulfport, Mississippi at about seven years of age.
Succumbing to peer pressure, I began to drift from God. Then,
while stationed near Memphis while in the Navy, I began to drink.
However, before alcohol dependence was established, two Navy
buddies, Jack Winebrenner and Charlie Sansome invited me to a
revival at Hollywood Assembly of God in Memphis. There, about
1955, my life was saved from alcoholism.
Let us now move to the nature and cure of alcoholism.
END