U-m Planning Alcohol, Drug Clinic

"The University of Michigan Medical Center will soon have an alcohol and drug abuse clinic," Margaret (Peggy) Brooks, a member óf the Michigan Alcohol Addiction Association, said here Wednesday. Addressing a Society of Manufacturing Engineers' national conference on "Alcoholism In Industry" at the Marriott Inn, the Ann Arbor woman termed the U-M program "the most exciting news" in the fight against alcoholism and drug addiction the state has had. Dr. Albert J. Silverman, chairman of the U-M Medical School psychiatry department, said today the State Health Department's Office of Sübstance Abuse has awarded a federal funds grant of some $120,000 per year for two years in support of the clinic. The clinic will be located in the former v University Motel building at Broadway and Wall streets. The building is being converted into a U-M Medical Center Outpatient Psychiatry Facility, he said. "Implementation of the program i some months off because the building has to be renovated and a staff hired and trained," Dr. Silverman said. Dr. Meivin L. Selzer, U-M professor of psychiatry who is internationally known for his work on alcoholism and his research on drunk driving at the University's Highway Safety Research Institute, will serve as clinic director. The first clinic of its kind in the state to provide a full "comprehensive treatment program with multiple approaches" and follow up program combined with teaching and research, it will receive an estimated 4,000 clinic visits a year, according to the grant proposal. "The program will provide intensive counseling and after-care for all substance abusers (alcohol, drugs etc.) - such a porgram does not now exist," Dr. Silverman said in the grant proposal. "The grant wiü allow us to improve and expand our services to patients suffering from alcoholism. It also will provide a teaching resource for teaching méxiical students and doctors in training nize and treat alcoholi hesaid. ut. Silverrftán said, in additinn, that "the center will also be valuable in developing new insights into treatment methods" when it is in operation some months from now. U-M medical students will spend part of their junior year at the clinic, and students in social work, psychology and other fields where there is a need for recogt nition of alcoholism and drug abuse in their professions will be trained by the facility. Hie clinic will include individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, smily therapy, methadone and antabuse ; therapy, outpatient follow-up proms, referral to Alcoholics Anonymous i for those who need it, according to the grant proposal. When renovations are completed and a I staff selected, the clinic will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m,,_and "no 'one with such problems will be denied access. 11, be accordijig to the patiënt 's abilitytopáy." ding to a 1969 United Fund survey there are some 6,000 alcoholics in Wbenaw County and an additional 6, 000 persons who are problem drinkers in the county. However, the clinic will serve patients from throughout the región and state. Mrs. Brooks, who spearheaded the drive for such a clinic with the aid of other local people, told the Society of nufacturing Engineers' conference that the clinic "will cooperate with other hospitals and various community ■ nes W. Henderson of the Wáshtenaw Counfy Health Department's Comprehen'e Alcoholism Program, Dr. Myron E ínan, dean of the U-M School of PubHeajth, Saúl Cooper, director of the htenaw County Community Men'taJ h Center. Dr. George Fischmann have been among other local persons actively working for the clinic. l Brooks said the petition for the imc was supported by the state and f medial societies, the state and i health departments, and other agencies. e conference on alcoholism a dis2 which will cost U.S. industry $10 'ti this year alone, continúes through Fnday.