Alcoholism is disease: A support group

Mumbai, Mar 30: Alcoholism is a disease and an alcoholic does not drink purposely to hurt his family, Al-Anon, a support group, said here.

Al-Anon Mumbai chapter coordinator Prachi, while speaking at the group's first meet here yesterday, pointed out that it is not only the alcoholic who has to suffer, but the latter's family members and friends too face a lot of trauma.

Al-Anon's endeavour has been to make the family members understand that they are not the cause of the disease nor can they control or cure it, but have to live with it. The group helps families of alcoholics to understand that the person affected is suffering from a disease and that he is not drinking purposely to hurt the members of his family, Al-Anon world service office executive director Ric said while speaking on the occasion.

There are around 32 groups of Al-Anon's Mumbai chapter working for the bettering the lives of alcoholics and their families.

UNI