Intro to issue # 68: Karl Marx makes this the most important issue ever.
January – February 2012
Viewing the news through the lens of alcohol and other-drug addiction
Well over a decade ago, when I was doing research for my first book, Drunks, Drugs & Debits, I had several discussions with the gentleman I view as my greatest mentor, James Graham, about the great and horrific despots that fill the history books. I suggested, based strictly on behaviors, Adolf Hitler must have been an addict; Graham, who wrote The Secret History of Alcoholism, responded that being a child of a particularly awful alcoholic (referring to Hitler’s father, Alois) was enough to turn someone into a mass murderer. Besides, he added, Hitler was a known teetotaler. I was skeptical and thought there had to be some drug addiction that would turn a man into a monster. I kept my eyes open thinking I might find my mentor to be mistaken.
Stumbling onto a used copy of The Medical Casebook of Adolf Hitler was one of those magical moments in my quest to find examples of people in whom behaviors indicated addiction, but where no one suspected it. Its authors, the husband and wife team of Leonard L. Heston, M.D. and Renate Heston, R.N., made an incontrovertible case for amphetamine addiction in this tyrant. Further, based on admittedly scant evidence, I surmised that barbiturate addiction may have preceded the amphetamines. By the same token, finding proof of barbiturate addiction in Mao Zedong in The Private Life of Chairman Mao, by Dr. Li Zhisui, was a similar coup. Now, in this month’s “Review of the Month,” we have one of the great finds in the annals of addiction: a review of one part of a book by the great historian Paul Johnson. He unknowingly provides proof of addiction in a political philosopher whose convoluted ideas have adversely affected billions over the past 150 years: Karl Marx.
The Top Story in this issue is a bit unusual in that while we lack absolute proof of addiction, the behaviors alone provide compelling evidence. The obituaries under “Sometimes, it takes an addict” are more numerous and varied than usual, adding to the loads of evidence that alcohol and other-drug addiction leads to behavioral extremes manifesting in both creative genius and evil incarnate. Since it’s the beginning of my income-producing Season (and, wish as I might, TAR far from pays the bills), I don’t guarantee another issue of the Thorburn Addiction Report until May, even if we’ve succeeded in nearly every year to supply at least one issue somewhere in-between. However, we have tried to give you a double issue you won’t soon forget. If you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed researching and writing it, please forward it in its entirety to family, friends and associates and suggest they add themselves to our mailing list to receive future issues.
BTW, for blog readers: the names of addicts or likely addicts are bolded, direct links are included and, well, it just looks better.
Suzanne Burgess said,
January 19, 2012 @ 6:41 pm
Mr. Thorburn, I’ve been reading your reports for several years now, after hearing you on KFI radio one evening.
Re Hitler and amphetamines: I read a history book a few years back alluding to Hitler’s use of this drug, but not really exploring the ramifications.
Also, I want to add to your list of historical figures who were most likely alcoholics and that is Queen Victoria.
Her biographers usually avoid any comments about her drinking, and especially how it could have effected her choices: refusing to participate in governing, living most of the time in Balmoral, her cranky behavior etc…
But, some biographers include facts such as she and her Balmoral manservant John Brown frequently spending time on picnics, drinking tea laced with whiskey.
Other history books will quote visiting diplomats who are amazed that Victoria looks like a “common baker, with her red face and portly figure.”
Victoria’a probable alcoholism seems so very important and would merit exploration.