When the blind drunk lead those who would turn a blind eye

I listened today to am interesting and passionate interview that played out on the BBC where an alcoholic gentleman in recovery talked about not really knowing why he didn't stop.

On the same interview he stated that the local branch of Alcoholics Anonymous were about to teach the local Police Commissioner, Police Officers, Social Workers and Council Workers about alcoholism and alcohol so that there would be greater knowledge about the subject and they could pass this on.

I'm afraid this is a case of the blind drunk leading those who would rather ignore real solutions to the problems.

I am an adult child of an alcoholic. I know exactly what alcoholism does to families and individuals. I have discussed this on radio and television in the past. I have also spent almost thirty six years studying the subject that blighted what should have been the best years of my life. However there is one thing for certain. No matter how much I learn or seek to understand

I am not my father and unless I have walked in his shoes then I can never truly understand what he felt or why his compulsion to drink overcame all obstacles.

But yet the strange thing is that through all the groups and therapy sessions he went to including more AA meetings than I care to count not once did any of the so called supporters seek to educate him about alcohol and how it works and why it works. This includes organisations whom I have tremendous respect for such as Clouds and The Salvation Army.

And so when a group of alcoholics come together to educate a group of officials then I have real fear in my eyes.

Sure they can describe their feelings and outline the consequences that occurred for them in their journey but they will never truly raise the knowledge of the substance that has caused the damage. There will be a lot of hand wringing and head shaking and I would have thought tears and emotion too. Maybe some shock and probably a lot of faux shock too, but in reality no education and no real learning.

Most alcoholics probably don't care about the neurophysiology and associated psychology of alcohol. They are interested in two things:

1. Where is my next drink

2. Where is my drink after my next drink

If we are going to deal with alcoholism we have to look at the root cause and no that is not alcohol interestingly enough.

It is human nature!

Alcohol is merely a substance of abuse or addiction. It is not the substance that matters but the person who uses the substance. You can be addicted to anything from alcohol to drugs to sex to football or gardening! And when the power of the mind takes over then then it needs a serious mind mechanic to help out.

Yet if we teach this from an early age then there is a greater chance that we can get to people before they fall into the trap. And once they have fallen into the trap, just like an engine that runs out of oil that we have to make sure that we stop before it blows up, we have to haul the person out of the pit before the serious damage is done.

We can not do that by talking about what happens at the end. We have to start at the beginning. Start with our children and educate them. Allow their creative minds to look in alternate directions by showing them kindness and respect and truth about human nature. We have to remember to nurture our children in a positive way but being totally honest about them and with them. Don't make alcohol special or different, Just make it part of life like electricity or gas. Both after all do tremendous damage if abused or treated with lack of care. We teach our children of the dangers of these substances but not of alcohol.

The industry has a it's part to play in this as well. Stop making drinks that are super sweet. These drinks are not something that adults generally like due to the nature of the adult taste bud.  Fifty years ago a child would take a sip of their mum or dad's drink and almost spit it out, their faces becoming like a bulldog chewing a wasp! Now the alcopop generation loves the sweet mess that they get into!

Maybe, just maybe then we will give children enough courage to recognise when their parents have got themselves into trouble and do something about it. Also it may help some children realise that their parents are not bad people but someone with a misfiring engine!

And then maybe we will not be talking about officials who got it wrong such as in the case of Hamza Khan but of children who have shown tremendous courage to help their siblings and their parents who have fallen into despair.