VOICES OF THE AFFLICTED

Over the past 10 years, I have been privileged to conduct educational forums for audiences containing many recovering alcoholics or otherwis e chemically dependent persons. In these forums about the addictive di seases and their treatment and research possibilities, significant int eraction with the audience members occurs. During these interactions, certain anecdotal phenomena seem to predominate. The repetitive nature of these reports suggests the need for systematic investigation. As w ith editorial comments in major medical journals, observed phenomena a nd unanswered questions from those afflicted can be valuable in the ge neration of testable hypotheses. Perhaps the ideas presented herein wi ll be useful in the development of future research on alcohol abuse an d alcohol dependence.