One way to gauge a society is how it treats its poor, destitute, and mentally ill segment.  Ronald Reagan shoveled the mentally ill out to the streets when he was governor of California, "to save money" no doubt.  He was responsible for a tax system that heavily rewarded the top tier of society while ignoring the folks at the bottom.  He set the standard by which America has treated those less fortunate in the years since then.  With all the wealth Alaska took in from oil, it never seemed important to politicians to get the proper help or housing for the members of our society that Jesus said to help.  So much for this being a so called Christian society.  We have failed as a country to treat these illnesses properly and this is the result of a society bitten by the greed bug.  I appreciated you comments Celia.  We seem to have a Wild West mentality of toting guns and bullying our way toward wealth while ignoring the least of fellow human beings.  Alcoholism is a disease.  Treatment ?