Alcoholism Myths and Realities

"My father died of alcoholism.  His father died of alcoholism.  Three generations of alcoholism is enough.  Now is the time to abandon superstition and pseudoscience, to debunk the myths surrounding alcoholism, and to apply science to solving this problem.  Doug Thorburn's book is a model example of how this should be done.  Read is and be prepared to change your thinking on this important topic.  When enough of us understand what is really going on with alcoholism, society can make the shift from treatment to prevention and early intervention."

-Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine, monthly columnist for Scientific American, and author of Why People Believe Weird Things

True or False?

• Alcoholics lack willpower
• Proper parenting and involvement prevents alcoholism
• She can't be an alcoholic; she's too successful
• If he's an alcoholic, he would have lost his job

These are among the more than 100 commonly held myths about alcohol and other drug addiction that are widely regarded as fact not only by the general public, but also by many medical professionals, recovering alcoholics and even addiction experts.  Alcoholism Myths and Realities explores the reality of addiction and exposes these myths.

Doug Thorburn is the founder of the PrevenTradgedy Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing the tragic results of progressive alcoholism.  He is author of Drunks, Drugs & Debts: How to Recognize Addicts and Avoid Financial Abuse; Get Out of the Way!  How to Identify and Avoid a Driver Under the Influence; and How to Spot Hidden Alcoholics: Using Behavior Clues to Recognize Addiction in its Early Stages.