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Beyond the Influence: Understanding and Defeating Alcoholism
"This invaluable work will contribute much to the battle against our number one disease."—from the Foreword by George McGovern, former senator and author of My Daughter's Life-and-Death Struggle with Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a disease. It's time we started treating it like one.
Science has offered undisputed proof that alcoholism is a disease rather than a weakness of character, yet millions of alcoholics continue to suffer due to inappropriate treatment. Now the co-author of the modern classic Under the Influence has teamed up with prominent alcoholism experts to provide new answers to this national epidemic.
Based on the latest scientific research, Beyond the Influence clearly explains the neurological nature of the disease and reveals why some people drink addictively and others do not. It also spells out what needs to be done to treat alcoholism,
Steps to take for an intervention
How to find the right treatment program
Which psychological approaches work best
Why spirituality is essential to recovery
New insights into relapse prevention
What you should know about diet, exercise, and nontraditional treatments such as acupuncture
Provocative and eye-opening, compelling and compassionate, Beyond the Influence is not only a message of hope for alcoholics--it is a blueprint for saving lives.
Beyond the Influence explains that alcoholism is a disease of the body, not a weakness of character. Drawing on the latest scientific studies, the authors present new research on the central role of genetics and neurotransmitters in addiction. Continuing where the prior book left off, it also
Steps for diagnosis and intervention, plus ways to prevent relapses
Various treatment models, including inpatient and out-patient programs and a review of new drug treatments
The most effective types of psychological counseling
The critical role of nutrition
Non-traditional healing methods for recovery
The importance of a spiritual component to recovery
The authors also critique our nation's alcoholism policies, including education and prevention programs, efforts to curtail college bingeing and underage drinking, and the advertising and marketing strategies of the alcohol industry.
Alcoholism is a disease. It's time we started treating it like one.
Science has offered undisputed proof that alcoholism is a disease rather than a weakness of character, yet millions of alcoholics continue to suffer due to inappropriate treatment. Now the co-author of the modern classic Under the Influence has teamed up with prominent alcoholism experts to provide new answers to this national epidemic.
Based on the latest scientific research, Beyond the Influence clearly explains the neurological nature of the disease and reveals why some people drink addictively and others do not. It also spells out what needs to be done to treat alcoholism,
Steps to take for an intervention
How to find the right treatment program
Which psychological approaches work best
Why spirituality is essential to recovery
New insights into relapse prevention
What you should know about diet, exercise, and nontraditional treatments such as acupuncture
Provocative and eye-opening, compelling and compassionate, Beyond the Influence is not only a message of hope for alcoholics--it is a blueprint for saving lives.
Beyond the Influence explains that alcoholism is a disease of the body, not a weakness of character. Drawing on the latest scientific studies, the authors present new research on the central role of genetics and neurotransmitters in addiction. Continuing where the prior book left off, it also
Steps for diagnosis and intervention, plus ways to prevent relapses
Various treatment models, including inpatient and out-patient programs and a review of new drug treatments
The most effective types of psychological counseling
The critical role of nutrition
Non-traditional healing methods for recovery
The importance of a spiritual component to recovery
The authors also critique our nation's alcoholism policies, including education and prevention programs, efforts to curtail college bingeing and underage drinking, and the advertising and marketing strategies of the alcohol industry.
- GenresNonfictionAddiction
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
62 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Ketcham
34 books33 followersI've been writing non-fiction books for nearly 40 years. My first book, UNDER THE INFLUENCE: A GUIDE TO THE MYTHS AND REALITIES OF ALCOHOLISM (co-authored by James Milam, Ph.D.) was published in 1981; my new book, THE ONLY LIFE I COULD SAVE, will be published by Sounds True on April 1, 2018. My books, seventeen in all, have been published in sixteen foreign languages and have sold over 1.5 million copies.
In 2000 I began volunteering at the Juvenile Justice Center in Walla Walla, leading educational groups and working individually with adolescents in trouble with alcohol and other drugs. I've worked there ever since, as both a paid employee and volunteer, meeting with young people in detention and on probation, consulting with staff and administrators, and educating family members.
From October 2001 to October 2003 and October 2012-October 2013, I wrote a bi-monthly newspaper column for the Walla Walla Union Bulletin titled "Straight Talk About Drugs.”
In 2003, working with a group of committed parents, I started a parent support group at the Juvenile Justice Center in Walla Walla, which continues to this day. I am the founder and Executive Director of Trilogy Recovery Community, a grassroots, nonprofit organization in Walla Walla dedicated to developing and expanding community-based recovery support services for chemically dependent youth and their family members.
I grew up in New Jersey and graduated from the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York with a degree in psychology in 1971. I have lived and worked in Boston, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, San Francisco, Seattle, and Ohio. In 1984, I moved to Walla Walla, Washington with my husband, Patrick Spencer, a geology professor at Whitman College. We have three children -- Robyn, 35, a speech pathologist living in Portland, Oregon; Alison, 33, a special education teacher living in Seattle, Washington; and Benjamin, 31, writer/researcher who is currently finishing up his first novel.
In 2000 I began volunteering at the Juvenile Justice Center in Walla Walla, leading educational groups and working individually with adolescents in trouble with alcohol and other drugs. I've worked there ever since, as both a paid employee and volunteer, meeting with young people in detention and on probation, consulting with staff and administrators, and educating family members.
From October 2001 to October 2003 and October 2012-October 2013, I wrote a bi-monthly newspaper column for the Walla Walla Union Bulletin titled "Straight Talk About Drugs.”
In 2003, working with a group of committed parents, I started a parent support group at the Juvenile Justice Center in Walla Walla, which continues to this day. I am the founder and Executive Director of Trilogy Recovery Community, a grassroots, nonprofit organization in Walla Walla dedicated to developing and expanding community-based recovery support services for chemically dependent youth and their family members.
I grew up in New Jersey and graduated from the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York with a degree in psychology in 1971. I have lived and worked in Boston, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, San Francisco, Seattle, and Ohio. In 1984, I moved to Walla Walla, Washington with my husband, Patrick Spencer, a geology professor at Whitman College. We have three children -- Robyn, 35, a speech pathologist living in Portland, Oregon; Alison, 33, a special education teacher living in Seattle, Washington; and Benjamin, 31, writer/researcher who is currently finishing up his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 13, 2019
Updates a classic of informative literature
Beyond the Influence is an update and an elaboration of Katherine Ketcham and James R. Milam's Under the Influence (1981). Whereas the first book was an emergency crash course in alcoholism, this is the full curriculum.
The main point the authors make is that alcoholism is a disease that anyone who has the susceptible internal chemistry can get, be he saint or sinner, tower of strength or shriveling weakling. It doesn't make any difference. Your personality or moral fiber are irrelevant. We tend to think that alcoholics are somehow immoral or possessed of a character flaw. But, as Ketcham, et al., demonstrate here, there is only one flaw that leads to alcoholism, and that flaw is one of internal chemistry and not of character. Furthermore, despite some pollyannaish delusion to the contrary, there is only one cure and this book makes it clear exactly what that cure is.
The updated material presented here (in the main, a greater appreciation of the power of Alcoholics Anonymous, a more in-depth discussion of the relevant chemistry, an elaboration of the spiritual aspects of recovery, an incisive attack on "The Booze Merchants," a clearer inventory of how alcoholics can be diagnosed before the onset of the latter stages of the disease, and a delineation of how recovery can be achieved) make this a very superior book and for the most part a worthy update. However these additions also make Beyond the Influence less accessible than UTI, which was more direct, and was smaller and weighed less. This last may seem a minor point, but I could pocket the old book while the new one needs to go into my backpack.
Politically speaking, the authors call for greater taxes on liquor; they insist on alcohol being labeled a drug; and they allow that psychotherapy can be (providing that the counselors are educated about the true nature of alcoholism) useful in helping alcoholics recover. They do not directly call for an end to liquor advertising but given the tone of their words, I have little doubt that they would like to see that come about, and I think it might some day. The liquor industry, driven by its need to increase consumption, is increasingly aiming its ads at young people, children even, with its frogs and lizards and other cute spokespersons, and so will someday find itself in the same position that tobacco companies find themselves in today. At least one hopes so. I should add that the authors are not prohibitionists, recognizing that prohibition does not work.
Readers looking for a distinction between hard (distilled) liquor which is typically forty to fifty percent alcohol by volume and beer and wine (six and twelve percent) will not find it here. The authors insist that booze is booze, and no useful distinction can be made. I agree that for alcoholics that is exactly the case; and in fact I always worry about a person who can drink Thunderbird with the same appreciation as say a Beaulieu Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon. The truth is however, that beer and wine, regardless of how they are used by alcoholics and so-called "problem drinkers," are in a different class than distilled or fortified liquors because beer and wine are naturally appearing products of fermentation while whiskey, rye, vodka, etc., are the result of human engineering and did not exist in the environment until the rise of modern science. As such they are dangerous not only to alcoholics, but to others as well. As the authors point out, some ethnic groups are more susceptible ("sensitive") to alcohol than others. One of the probable reasons for this is that susceptible peoples have not had a long cultural history of alcohol use, at least not for as long as say the Italians and Greeks, and therefore their inherited chemistry has not had enough time to adjust.
As far as insisting on alcohol being labeled a drug goes, I think that to win such a battle would tend to lose the war since then alcohol would be conjoined with heroin, codeine, cocaine, etc., and a useful distinction would be lost. After all, the percentage of people susceptible to opiate and cocaine addiction is much greater than the ten to fifteen percent that the authors estimate are susceptible to alcohol addiction. Beyond that, the general public will reject the label, and its advocates will lose influence thereby bolstering the position of the liquor industry. Personally I don't believe that beer or table wines should to be called drugs. Wine especially is seen as a food by southern European peoples, and is an important part of a larger cuisine. I think that a careful look at consumption practices will show that drinking to get drunk or to get high can and should be distinguished from drinking as a complement to a meal. (Except for alcoholics!) At any rate, whatever labels are attached, alcohol itself is a food, containing by weight fifty percent more calories than carbohydrates with about seventy-five percent of the caloric value of fat. These are "empty calories" of course, as found in white flour and white sugar.
Anyone who drinks alcohol ought to read this book If everybody did, literately thousands of lives would be saved, and untold millions of hours of misery avoided. If you have any doubt about whether you or someone you love is or could be an alcoholic, you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to READ THIS BOOK. If you are as certain as the morning sun that you are NOT an alcoholic and never could be one, then you should especially READ THIS BOOK. If you're right, you can cite chapter and verse like an expert, and if you're wrong, you'll know why and what you can do about it.
--Dennis Littrell, author of “The World Is Not as We Think It Is”
Beyond the Influence is an update and an elaboration of Katherine Ketcham and James R. Milam's Under the Influence (1981). Whereas the first book was an emergency crash course in alcoholism, this is the full curriculum.
The main point the authors make is that alcoholism is a disease that anyone who has the susceptible internal chemistry can get, be he saint or sinner, tower of strength or shriveling weakling. It doesn't make any difference. Your personality or moral fiber are irrelevant. We tend to think that alcoholics are somehow immoral or possessed of a character flaw. But, as Ketcham, et al., demonstrate here, there is only one flaw that leads to alcoholism, and that flaw is one of internal chemistry and not of character. Furthermore, despite some pollyannaish delusion to the contrary, there is only one cure and this book makes it clear exactly what that cure is.
The updated material presented here (in the main, a greater appreciation of the power of Alcoholics Anonymous, a more in-depth discussion of the relevant chemistry, an elaboration of the spiritual aspects of recovery, an incisive attack on "The Booze Merchants," a clearer inventory of how alcoholics can be diagnosed before the onset of the latter stages of the disease, and a delineation of how recovery can be achieved) make this a very superior book and for the most part a worthy update. However these additions also make Beyond the Influence less accessible than UTI, which was more direct, and was smaller and weighed less. This last may seem a minor point, but I could pocket the old book while the new one needs to go into my backpack.
Politically speaking, the authors call for greater taxes on liquor; they insist on alcohol being labeled a drug; and they allow that psychotherapy can be (providing that the counselors are educated about the true nature of alcoholism) useful in helping alcoholics recover. They do not directly call for an end to liquor advertising but given the tone of their words, I have little doubt that they would like to see that come about, and I think it might some day. The liquor industry, driven by its need to increase consumption, is increasingly aiming its ads at young people, children even, with its frogs and lizards and other cute spokespersons, and so will someday find itself in the same position that tobacco companies find themselves in today. At least one hopes so. I should add that the authors are not prohibitionists, recognizing that prohibition does not work.
Readers looking for a distinction between hard (distilled) liquor which is typically forty to fifty percent alcohol by volume and beer and wine (six and twelve percent) will not find it here. The authors insist that booze is booze, and no useful distinction can be made. I agree that for alcoholics that is exactly the case; and in fact I always worry about a person who can drink Thunderbird with the same appreciation as say a Beaulieu Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon. The truth is however, that beer and wine, regardless of how they are used by alcoholics and so-called "problem drinkers," are in a different class than distilled or fortified liquors because beer and wine are naturally appearing products of fermentation while whiskey, rye, vodka, etc., are the result of human engineering and did not exist in the environment until the rise of modern science. As such they are dangerous not only to alcoholics, but to others as well. As the authors point out, some ethnic groups are more susceptible ("sensitive") to alcohol than others. One of the probable reasons for this is that susceptible peoples have not had a long cultural history of alcohol use, at least not for as long as say the Italians and Greeks, and therefore their inherited chemistry has not had enough time to adjust.
As far as insisting on alcohol being labeled a drug goes, I think that to win such a battle would tend to lose the war since then alcohol would be conjoined with heroin, codeine, cocaine, etc., and a useful distinction would be lost. After all, the percentage of people susceptible to opiate and cocaine addiction is much greater than the ten to fifteen percent that the authors estimate are susceptible to alcohol addiction. Beyond that, the general public will reject the label, and its advocates will lose influence thereby bolstering the position of the liquor industry. Personally I don't believe that beer or table wines should to be called drugs. Wine especially is seen as a food by southern European peoples, and is an important part of a larger cuisine. I think that a careful look at consumption practices will show that drinking to get drunk or to get high can and should be distinguished from drinking as a complement to a meal. (Except for alcoholics!) At any rate, whatever labels are attached, alcohol itself is a food, containing by weight fifty percent more calories than carbohydrates with about seventy-five percent of the caloric value of fat. These are "empty calories" of course, as found in white flour and white sugar.
Anyone who drinks alcohol ought to read this book If everybody did, literately thousands of lives would be saved, and untold millions of hours of misery avoided. If you have any doubt about whether you or someone you love is or could be an alcoholic, you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to READ THIS BOOK. If you are as certain as the morning sun that you are NOT an alcoholic and never could be one, then you should especially READ THIS BOOK. If you're right, you can cite chapter and verse like an expert, and if you're wrong, you'll know why and what you can do about it.
--Dennis Littrell, author of “The World Is Not as We Think It Is”
January 5, 2018
I didn't give it 5 stars because who can say "it was really amazing" when reading a book about such a terrible disease that destroys lives. The book was given to me by a friend knowing we need to learn more about alcoholism, and it was so helpful to learn about it as a disease rather than thinking that those who struggle are somehow weaker or less motivated to control their drinking. I found it very easy to read and to understand, and plan on giving several people copies of the book. The scientific research supports the understanding that alcoholics have genetic tendencies which can be shown with 80% accuracy that they will not be able to control their drinking. I think this book will help family members and friends be more compassionate and helpful, rather than be themselves in denial.
May 15, 2023
I am new to understanding addiction, particularly alcoholism. This book is not only a great overview of what happens with this addiction but also gives real life examples that give the reader a deeper insight of what is going on. I have a family member who recently went through rehab and with this knowledge derived from this book I was able to support them in an impactful but appropriate way and it gave me greater empathy to their situation. The tone of this book is empathy by building understanding through facts, personal narratives which concludes with no one should be denied our compassion to this addiction that can steal an individual's very soul.
December 3, 2017
I'll be honest; I wish I didn't need to read this book.
Want to read
May 12, 2021Didnt finish. Too much of a scientific approach to slog through.
January 17, 2022
An absolute life changer. This book gives you more than an insight into alcoholism, it gives you scientific and neurological understanding which inspires me to seek for the greater good.
September 3, 2011
Really great book that goes deep into the science behind alcoholism. While I skipped a lot of the nutritional and exercise sciences parts, because I know them well, most of the book presented new and important information. The bits on the genetics and brain chemistry, as well as the stages of alcoholism in Part I were particularly interesting and educational. Part III did a great job of showing the insane cost of the drug alcohol in the form of both money and lives. This should be required reading for all addiction-ignorant people of the world. I would have liked a bit more on post-rehab, but I suppose there are other books to explore for those answers.
October 15, 2015
I am nurse who just moved to New Mexico. Most of my patients are Native Americans who suffer from alcoholism and withdrawal. I was looking for a book that could expertly and concretely give me facts about the disease and treatment. This is a wonderful book because it is simple to read and goes deep enough into the material that keeps it interesting, thought provoking without being overwhelming with too many facts and science. As a nurse and I think as a layperson, this tells you just what you need to know. It's also easy to cross-reference if you are just seeking information about physiology or intervention or treatment.
July 27, 2010
Y2K update of the science findings on understanding and defeating alcoholism, lead author also a coauthor of 1980's data-based "Under the Influence". Very readable, mix of quantitative and qualitative, subjective and objective info, all clearly identified. Index,Resources and References all valuable to the student or professional counselor.
May 6, 2008
One of the best recovery books I have read about alcoholism, period. The science based, biochemical explanation of the "addicted brain" is my favorite part of the book---really breaks it on down and backs up the disease model of alcoholism. Kind of scary, actually.
September 26, 2012
Good overview of the disease model for alcoholism. After reading this, I believe!! I definitely questioned the disease/abstinence model before - now I see that at least for some poor souls, the disease model is the only model worth considering.
August 26, 2008
A highly practical and mostly easy to understand overview of the beginning, middle, and advanced stages of alcohol abuse. Causes and treatments are examined and hope is offered.
September 30, 2011
Excellent! Valuable, clear information. A must read for every alcoholic or every person with an alcoholic relative or friend.
Want to read
March 25, 2013adicted
May 12, 2015
Everyone should read!!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews