A Taste Of The High Country – Nov 2022

Over the past two years, I explored how soldiers and army leaders used alcohol to sustain the unbearable violence they faced and muster the courage needed to get “the job done.”  Unfortunately, alcohol also brought about its fair share of casualties as it became a popular way to self-medicate deep trauma known then as “shell shock” (today recognized as PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

Stories abound of soldiers and other army and medical staff coming back “broken” and not being their “old selves.” Of men and women that shut down and were silent about their war experience. Most of the time, the invisible wounds were not recognized, and little help was offered. Today, the symptoms are well documented on Veteran Affairs Canada’s website, including anxiety, depression and acute stress. But, back then, left to their own devices, the afflicted men or women did not have such luck. They found solace in alcohol, driving many of them to alcoholism – adding harm to injury.

However, wars were not the only contributors to the rise of alcoholism in the early part of the twentieth century. Ironically, during Canadian Prohibition, between 1915 to 1927, the consumption of alcohol increased. The so-called “Iron Law of Prohibition”, coined by Richard Cowan, helps explain this social reaction. He correlated the increased use of law enforcement and social control with the increased potency of prohibited substances. Cowan put it this way: “the harder the enforcement, the harder the drugs” (Cato Institute). In other words, during Prohibition, the quality of the alcohol diminished, its potency increased, and the harm brought by the illegal trade neutralized the benefits sought by the law. The booze was produced in proverbial back sheds by amateurs with makeshift equipment. There was little to no quality control, and the high-proof alcohol products were often dangerous to the consumers’ health. It was only after Prohibition that standards of quality and regulations brought in by the state ensured the offering of safe alcohol products.

It is against this backdrop that in 1935 a chance meeting between Bill W., a New York stockbroker, and Dr. Bob S., an Akron surgeon, eventually led to the creation of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.). Both had been hopeless alcoholics and owed their recovery to the Oxford Group, a mostly nonalcoholic fellowship professing universal spiritual values in daily lives. Bob first sobered up with the guidance of this fellowship and the support of an old friend. Bill eventually realized “that alcoholism was a malady of mind, emotions, and body.” He supported Bob’s recovery and convinced him of the existence of the malady (aka disease or condition). Together they helped a patient recover at Akron’s City Hospital, and these three men founded A.A. According to A.A.’s website, the striking rise of the organization saw 100,000 recovered alcoholics by 1950 and is currently active in 180 nations.

Alcoholics Anonymous defines its organization as “ a fellowship of people that come together to solve their drinking problem.” It is free, has no age limit and is open to everyone and anyone. The Twelve Steps approach to recovery is the guide that helps alcoholics heal. The steps include admitting alcohol dependence; taking responsibility for personal healing; accepting other people’s help; helping others; making amends, and believing in a greater power to support the journey back to sobriety. Interestingly, A.A. is not anti-alcohol, is non-denominational, not associated with any particular culture and does not profess to own the truth.

Remembrance Day is a time to remember the fallen that contributed to the relative peace of the last 77 years. Along with them, I also honour all those who came back wounded in their hearts and minds. Their sacrifices carried on long after the wars were over into their daily lives. Many found solace in supportive families, but many did not. Still, some were lucky enough to find A.A. that understood them and helped them recover. To all, I say Lest we forget.