Here's a short movie which discusses techniques for dealing with alcoholism in the 1960s. In Australia, a man called 'Doug' is put into a structured retreat, where, with other people who also suffer from alcoholism, he undergoes aversion therapy. The particular therapy gone over in detail is to give him drinks, some of which are ordinary things like orange juice, and some of which are alcohol. When he drinks alcohol, he is administered a electric shock until he spits it out.
The research seems to be helpful, but it is rendered in a controlled environment with other people who suffer the same problem. How will he proceed once he leaves? The narrator asks that very question.
Of course a controlled environment, and the presence of other people with the same problem is helpful; that is the basis of the the success of programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. A friend of mine who is an AA member for a quarter of a century says that there's no use trying to fool the other AA members; they know precisely what is going on. Can the habits instilled by shock therapy have much effect once they cease to be administered? I doubt it.
The research seems to be helpful, but it is rendered in a controlled environment with other people who suffer the same problem. How will he proceed once he leaves? The narrator asks that very question.
Of course a controlled environment, and the presence of other people with the same problem is helpful; that is the basis of the the success of programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. A friend of mine who is an AA member for a quarter of a century says that there's no use trying to fool the other AA members; they know precisely what is going on. Can the habits instilled by shock therapy have much effect once they cease to be administered? I doubt it.
