1 DECEMBER 2023

Greetings Friends, Family, and All Who Support FAR,

How many have seen the Apple TV series, “Ted Lasso”? The lead character is a “fish out of water” who is on a quest to cope with a failing marriage and forge a successful and happy new life in an entirely new culture. “Fish out of water” is a familiar trope because it is a universal experience – most of us have found ourselves in discombobulating circumstances at various times in our lives. Ted is the kind of character who is continuously underestimated due to his sincere, folksy, kind, positive, and all-around genuine nice-guy persona. That’s rather sad, isn’t it? Challenged by the main antagonist to a game of darts, this opponent thinks he’s got the drop on Ted. This is when Ted relates one of his folksy anecdotes and recalls seeing graffiti of a quote he wrongly attributes to the venerable Walt Whitman, “Be curious, not judgmental.”

It’s a common human foible – to make snap judgments about others based on superficial observations … and this leads me to comment on what I think is one major reason that Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is so difficult to detect and treat. Someone with AUD knows they must conceal this disease from significant others to avoid the judgments and often they become an expert at that – until AUD has progressed so far that the ruse becomes impossible. Some commonly held beliefs that need myth-busting:

• AUD is a character flaw. In fact, it is a biopsychosocial disease recognized by the DSM. (NIH)
• One only needs to exercise will power to quit imbibing alcohol. In fact, the profound changes to brain chemistry significantly impair judgment and make that almost impossible. (NIH)
• Only certain types of alcohol are addictive; dependence not possible with drinking just beer or wine. In fact, although the volume of alcohol is significantly higher in one serving of spirits compared to beer or wine, if alcohol intake is excessive and predisposing factors are present, one has the potential to develop AUD. (NIH)
• AUD is not as serious as other drug addictions. In fact, AUD is a causal factor for development of many life-threatening diseases, and its legal and widespread availability serve to seriously hinder recovery. (NIH)
• Someone with AUD cannot possibly hold a job. In fact, many who have AUD continue to function well in their professional lives; 62% of Functional Alcoholics work full-time. (SAMHA)

What would Ted do with these sobering facts? Despite his mild manners, Ted is a dynamic, gregarious, and resourceful character who finds his way back home and triumphs in the season finale. Ever the optimist, I think he would say that it is very possible to intervene in the arc of someone’s struggle with AUD. For starters, strive to “Be curious, not judgmental.” The experts suggest planning ahead before you have a conversation or stage an intervention, and be sure to focus on coming from a place of love and concern. Use I-statements. Do your research and be prepared to offer options. Most importantly — be prepared to listen with an open mind and heart.

And of course, more research is needed to better identify, treat, cure, and prevent AUD. Please donate to FAR and continue to help us award promising university biomed research study grants focused on AUD. In a few days, I am excited to be meeting with one of our research teams, whose work is concluding. I will be amending this letter to include an update on their data, their conclusions and plans for next steps. FAR’s next steps include releasing invitations for proposals, as we begin the search for more promising research studies to support. Your donations allow us to do so. Thank you for doing your part to improve the tragic landscape for those suffering with AUD.

Wishing you wonderful health, success, and happiness for the coming holiday season and for the New Year 2024!

Best,
Kathleen Madden, President and Corresponding Secretary, FAR