We've made a quantum leap forward in our efforts to prevent the use and abuse of alcohol. We've taken a strong stance and made some progress. Attitudes have changed. We're all in this together, shaping the way kids grow up and look at the idea of drinking.

We're number one in domestic violence homicides. We also have a high rate of alcohol abuse and drug abuse and there's a high lethality rate when you get those factors involved, so the shelter has 52 beds, certainly it is never empty.

We don't want to be complacent about drug an alcohol abuse.

Alcohol does not a change a person’s fundamental value system. People’s personalities when intoxicated, even though somewhat altered, still bear some relationship to who they are when sober. When you are drunk you may behave in ways that are silly or embarrassing; you might be overly familiar or tactlessly honest, or perhaps careless or forgetful. But do you knock over little old ladies for a laugh? Probably not. Do you sexually assault the clerk at the convenience store? Unlikely. People’s conduct while intoxicated continues to be governed by their core foundation of beliefs and attitudes, even though there is some loosening of the structure. Alcohol encourages people to let loose what they have simmering below the surface.
ABUSERS MAKE CONSCIOUS CHOICES EVEN WHILE INTOXICATED

The process is like making grain alcohol or brewing beer, but on a much bigger scale. The technologies are out there to do this, but we need to convince the public this is real and not just a science project.

I had every symptom of depression other than drug or alcohol abuse.