Behind the scenes, he lobbied for the creation of a new federal agency devoted to the problems of alcoholism.
Dr. Chafetz (pronounced CHAFE-etz), the first director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, became a leading spokesman for the problems of alcoholism and its treatment purely by accident.
Subsequently cleared of assault, Mr Richards later admitted to problems of alcoholism and resigned as an AM in 2002.
It's a disguise for prejudice, and there were very real problems of alcoholism, of men being denied work and working outside the system.
The only controversy surrounding Mamie's tenure as first lady involved her balance problem, which prompted rumours of alcoholism.
"If they understood how few people with substance abuse problems come to treatment and knew women have all these disabling problems as a result of alcoholism," she said, "maybe they'd be more likely when they see females for other things to ask: 'Do you drink?
Most are mired in poverty, with towering unemployment and wrenching social problems, including high rates of alcoholism and suicide.
But recent figures show the number of people being admitted to hospital with liver problems as a result of alcoholism is rising dramatically.
Other health problems included the spread of alcoholism, tuberculosis, venereal diseases including syphilis, and sterility.
