In the course of its study and deliberations, your Council became convinced that the disease of alcoholism now seriously drains, and will increasingly deplete, the State's human and productive resources and that there is an immediate and urgent need to develop new innovations to halt this trend. The recommendations presented in this report are designed: first, to initiate programs now which will develop, encourage and support new methods for treating and rehabilitating alcoholics and alert the medical profession to the problems and avenues for treatment in this complex field; second, to lay the groundwork for soundly conceived future action by the State; and third, to answer constructively the General Assembly's request for study and recommendations in this area, embodied in House Joint Resolution No. 89 of the 1964 Regular Session.

Pursuant to this directive the council appointed one of its members, Edward M. Hudgins of Chesterfield, a member of the House of Delegates, chairman of a Committee to investigate the treatment and rehabilitation of alcoholics and make a preliminary report to the Council. Members of the Committee were: Frank Ball, Jr., Attorney, Arlington; Dr. Rex Blankinship, Westbrook Psychiatric Hospital, Richmond; Hale Collins, member of the Senate, Covington; Dr. Robert P. Daniel, President, Virginia State College, Petersburg; Dr. Hiram W. Davis, Commissioner, Department of Mental Hygiene and Hospitals, Richmond; Dr. W. C. Elliott, member of the House of Delegates, Lebanon; Dr. Ebbe C. Hoff, Medical Director, Division of Alcohol Studies and Rehabilitation, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond; John Wingo Knowles, Judge, Henrico Circuit Court, Richmond; Kenneth F. Lee, Director, Division of Alcohol Studies and Rehabilitation, Richmond; Dr. J. Rupert Picott, Executive Secretary, Virginia Teachers Association, Richmond; Dr. James C. Respess, University of Virginia Hospital, Charlottesville; A. H. Richardson, member of the House of Delegates and Council, Dinwiddie; T. Wilford Robinson, Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, Alexandria; Mrs. T. S. Temple, Chesterfield; and Dr. Wayne W. Womer, Executive Secretary, The Alcohol Education Council Incorporated of Virginia Churches, Richmond. The Committee elected Dr. Elliott Vice-Chairman and appointed John B. Boatwright, Jr. Secretary.

At its organizational meeting, the Committee was subdivided to consider and report on the following: (1) what constitutes being an alcoholic, number in Virginia being presently treated and requiring treatment; (2) methods and facilities currently employed to treat alcoholics in Virginia; and (3) advantages and disadvantages of programs not now in use in Virginia for treating and rehabilitating alcoholics. Upon completion of subcommittee investigations and following receipt and consideration of their reports, the full Committee formulated its recommendations and submitted its report to the Council. Having reviewed and studied the report of the Committee, we now submit the following recommendations and reasons therefor.