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by the increase in arrests for violation of the public intoxication law which in the District of Columbia accounts for about 50 percent of all nontraffic arrests according to the President's Commission on Law Enforcement. The Commission found that few cities, whatever their size, have intoxication arrest figures approximating the District's.

The problem of drunkenness is related to domestic difficulties in the home life of D.C. residents. Employers in the District of Columbia feel the ill effects of alcoholism's rapid rise to prominence. As Congress confronts the terrible toll of deaths on D.C. streets and the Nation's highways is the fact that alcoholism plays a sizable role.

This affliction has now enslaved millions with hundreds of thousands more every year bound without substantial hope toward an ignominous end. Their numbers include people from all walks of life. They have one thing in common-bondage. No blacksmith has devised chains of such insuperable tenacity as those forged by the alcoholic in his futile quest to quench an insatiable thirst.

Our sympathies must respond to his suffering. We dare not turn a continuing deaf ear to the cry of the alcoholic. Christian compassion cannot sit on the sidewalk and watch this pitiful parade pass-a vast host of sufferers in the District alone numbering in the thousands chained in their irons, if you please-without attempting in the most serious way to give them hope.

H.R. 6143 offers a helping hand. It is an attempt to come to grips with the most vital aspects of the problem which are, the control of drunkenness, the prevention of alcoholism, and the treatment of the afflicted.

This legislation will afford among many other valuable services the opportunity of seeking ways and means to help the incipient alcoholic to recognize those danger signs, which if unheeded spell consequences of disastrous proportions.

Prevention of heart disease, cancer, and mental illness is a paramount interest of our society. We must become just as interested in the prevention of alcoholism and the treatment of those afflicted.

With the benefit of this legislation the District of Columbia would have a much better opportunity to aid its suffering. The District could set a worthy example to the Nation affording hope to all who struggle beneath this growing burden.

I respectfully request your earnest consideration and favorable support of H.R. 6143.

Mr. DOWDY. Thank you.

Dr. McCORMACK. Thank you.

Mr. DOWDY. We will now hear from the Reverend John C. Mayne, representing the International Reform Federation.

STATEMENT OF REV. JOHN C. MAYNE, REPRESENTING THE INTERNATIONAL REFORM FEDERATION OF WASHINGTON, D.C., AND COOPERATING GROUPS

Rev. MAYNE. Mr. Chairman and honorable members of the Committee:

I observe you have been very patient this morning with I think some very important testimony on the part of my predecessors.

I represent the International Reform Federation of Washington, D.C., and the cooperating groups: Federation for Narcotic Education of Washington, and the National Civic League of Washington, D.C. First, we wish to commend Congressman Hagan and his associates for introducing this bill (H.R. 6143), to provide a comprehensive prógram for the control of drunkenness and the prevention and treatment of alcoholism in the District of Columbia.

I have underlined the word "prevention."

The groups I have the honor to represent are dedicated to the prevention of alcoholism by all possible legal and sociological methods. Since medical men generally agree that there is no cure for alcoholism that is, it can be arrested, Mr. Chairman, but there is no cure-we believe that the sensible approach is prevention. This approach is humane and effective, for the non-alcoholic does not require control, incarceration, treatment, or hospitalization. This saves the taxpayers immense sums of money, and relieves the police for their work of dealing with criminally inclined citizens.

Title III of this bill for D.C. emphasizes anew the problems faced in this city when it addresses itself to the "deleterious effects of excessive drinking . . . the accidents (caused), inefficiency, absenteeism, and the financial burden upon D.C. taxpayers" of the present and continuing use of alcohol by citizens.

Perhaps it is within the thinking of the author of this important Bill that imaginative and effective steps might be taken by Congress and the administrative departments of the District to work for the prevention of alcoholism as the most effective and economical phase of the larger problem of control.

For instance, the U.S. Government, seeking to reduce the increasing incidence of lung cancer, has required all packages of cigarettes to bear a warning that continued use may have serious effects upon the health of the smoker. The American Cancer Society reinforces this warning by showing scientific data that the risk of lung cancer goes up eight times if one smokes even half a pack of cigarettes daily; but it arises to twenty times the risk if one smokes two packs daily.

And I am entering as Exhibit A this splendid and very graphic poster which the American Cancer Society distributes, "More Cigarettes, More Lung Cancer." This is educational and informative to people in industrial plants in all phases of our educational life.

Undoubtedly machinery could be put into action by the various private health agencies and the D.C.-Federal Governmental agencies to warn those purchasing alcohol in any form of the dangers of alcoholism to those imbibing this habit-forming drug. Such a campaign of prevention would win the approval of all levels of lay and professional organizations, and receive support from medical authorities who know too well that the decreased and circumspect use of alcohol will greatly reduce the burden upon the police, hospitals, and above all upon the families of the uninformed victims of alcohol.

We hope this bill, Mr. Chairman, introduced by the Honorable Mr. Hagan, will be strengthened and will be passed.

I wish to thank you for the privilege once again of presenting this testimony.

Mr. Dowdy. Thank you for your statement. The exhibit you offered will be made a part of the record at this point.

(The exhibit referred to follows:)

EXHIBIT A FROM REV. JOHN WAYNE, JULY 24, 1967, HEARING

MORE CIGARETTES
MORE LUNG CANCER

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What are your chances of getting lung cancer? It depends on how much and how long you've smoked. Half a pack of cigarettes a day? Your risk goes up eight times. Two packs or more? 20 times greater. The more cigarettes you smoke, the greater the risk.

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Mr. DOWDY. Those are all the witnesses I have on the list. Is there anyone else who wants to be heard?

(No response.)

I have some statements here which will be filed in the record at this point.

(The statements referred to follow:)

STATEMENT OF R. BRINKLEY SMITHERS

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee:

My name is R. Brinkley Smithers and I am testifying on behalf of the Christopher D. Smithers Foundation, the only national philanthropic organization operating in the problem of alcoholism in our American society.

I appreciate this opportunity to present this statement in support of H.R. 6143, Rep. G. Elliott Hagan's bill to provide a comprehensive program of alcoholism care and control in our Nation's Capital.

Rep. Hagan has for many years been a pioneer in the field of alcoholism legislation, both in his native State of Georgia and on the national scene. The bill he has introduced to expand and improve alcoholism care and control facilities and services in the District of Columbia is a far-sighted, progressive proposal which will benefit not only the National Capital area, but the entire country.

Washington, D.C. is, after all, the most appropriate of communities to launch a pilot program which would set our society on a new, enlightened course in the treatment of the victims of the disease of alcoholism. Not only is this the Nation's Capital, but in view of the decision rendered last year in the case of Easter v. District of Columbia, Washington has come to the forefront as a community concerned with the urgent need to devise and implement new approaches to the prevention and treatment of alcoholism. Thus, the action taken in this field by your Committee and the 90th Congress will have impact far beyond the boundaries of the District of Columbia.

Your Subcommittee has already heard considerable expert testimony regarding the terrible human, social and economic toll which the disease of alcoholism takes on our society each year. It is not my intention, therefore, to burden the record further with a statistical recitation of the time and governmental resources lost by our police and in our courts, or the man-hours and economic resources lost by business and industry, as a result of this disease.

However, as one who has long been involved in our national, state and community efforts to curb this fourth largest American health problem, I can certainly reinforce the testimony of those who have previously pointed out that the problem of alcoholism and the chronic alcoholic in our country has in recent years reached truly alarming proportions. The time, it would seem, is long overdue for comprehensive action, along the lines contained in H.R. 6143.

For this reason, private organizations and agencies such as the Smithers Foundation, long active in the field of alcoholism care and control, welcome the advent of a new governmental activism to combat what is not simply a community problem, but a national one.

The Hagan Alcoholism Care and Control Bill for the District of Columbia, and other legislation pending in the 90th Congress which would provide for community programs of alcoholism care, treatment and rehabilitation, are hopeful signs that a comprehensive attack is forthcoming upon this fourth great health menace in our country. It is the sincere hope of all who have been committed to the alleviation of the human suffering caused by the disease of alcoholism that the Congress will approve and the President sign into law H.R. 6143 as a significant step toward this end, not only for the District of Columbia, but for the Nation as a whole.

ST. VINCENT CHARITY HOSPITAL,
Cleveland, Ohio, July 22, 1967.

The Honorable G. E. HAGAN,

House of Representatives,

New House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

My DEAR CONGRESSMAN HAGAN: As director of Rosary Hall, I wish to go on record in favor of the passage of H.R. 6143, the bill to provide a comprehensive program for alcoholism.

77-575-67-10

I am enclosing herewith a summary and a valuation of our program at Rosary Hall.

Respectfully yours,

SISTER M. VICTORINE,
Director of Rosary Hall.

EVALUATION OF PROPOSED ALCOHOLIC UNIT RENOVATION

I. SUMMARY

A. Name of Hospital: St. Vincent Charity Hospital, 2222 Central Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.

B. Sponsorship: An independent non-profit corporation with a Board of Trustees (Advisory)-Typical Medical Staff structure and Administration conducted by the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine.

C. Proposed Location: The site of the renovated alcoholic unit, known as Rosary Hall, is an entire wing of the second floor of an older portion of the hospital.

D. Summary of Proposal: The hospital proposes to renovate a vacated area into an alcoholic division accommodating 30 inpatient beds. 22 beds for male patients and 8 beds for female patients. This is an increase of 15 beds.

The cost of the program is estimated at $200,000. The intent is to raise the entire cost through a public campaign. "Friends of Rosary Hall Group" have already commenced raising funds from individual members of A.A., their friends, and relatives, and from industrial organizations, foundations, and others. To date, approximately $100,000 has been raised. Desired completion date of this project is July 1, 1967.

A. History

II. THE HOSPITAL ORGANIZATION

St. Vincent Charity Hospital, established in 1865 by the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, is the oldest, voluntary, non-profit hospital in the City of Cleveland. The initial facilities included 80 beds-24 private and 56 ward beds. Through the years, the following highlights have taken place:

Free Medical Dispensary for the Poor Opened (1894)

School of Nursing Established (1898)

18-Bed Addition with Modern Operating Room (1899)

Clinical Laboratory Started (1913)

Emergency Room Established (1917)

Social Service Department opened—one of the first 12 in the country (1919)
Cancer Clinic started (1947)

Rosary Hall Dedicated (1952)

First Open Heart Surgery Performed (1956)

First Research Department Opened (1957)

Cleveland Clinic and St. Vincent Charity Hospital Established a Joint Surgical Residency Program (1964)

The more recent building programs and fund raising campaigns have been:

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This brings the present bed capacity at this Metropolitan Center Hospital to 416. Within this complement are four clinical care programs

Medical-Surgical

Pediatrics

Psychiatry

Alcoholic Rehabilitation

The alcoholic unit, Rosary Hall, began operations in 1953 with a capacity for 15 patients. The unit has reached an 18 bed high, and currently stands at 15

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