Volunteer for Mission Brings New Vision to Problem of Alcoholism in the Soviet Union
Episcopal News Service. February 28, 1991 [91059]
An Episcopal Volunteer for Mission is helping to "open a whole new world" for alcoholics and substance abusers in the Soviet Union.
The Rev. Herbert Florer, a priest and certified alcoholism counselor, reported that Moscow is "a place of tremendous energy and excitement" that is ripe for the growing Alcoholics Anonymous movement. "People are hungry and thirsty for knowledge and are very open to learn," he said in an interview.
Florer, a resident of Kerhonkson, New York, has lived in Moscow since November 1990, when he began his work as an alcoholism counselor on behalf of the Episcopal Church's Volunteer for Mission program. Florer left for Moscow when he received a joint invitation from the Russian Orthodox Church and the Soviet Ministry of Health. He spent the past five months training staff at the 6,000-patient narcological hospital in techniques of psychotherapy.
"Until now the staff in the hospital -- doctors, nurses, and psychiatrists -- have operated under a pharmacological approach to alcoholism," Florer said. "We are training them to work as therapists. Instead of pills and implants, I teach them how to provide the treatment of therapy and AA."
"The nurses and doctors are completely supportive of this new approach," Florer said. "They speak of the old system as a 'revolving door,' meaning that they continued to see the same patients again and again."
The new rehabilitation clinic will operate much like one in the United States, according to Florer. "Patients will stay in the rehab clinic for about four weeks, and when they leave, they will continue with some form of outpatient care and AA meetings," he said.
Alcoholics Anonymous was introduced into the Soviet Union about eight years ago, according to Florer. "The old Communist view of AA was that it could be a threat since small groups of any kind were seen as a potential political threat," he said. "The new attitude of openness by the government has helped AA to grow."
Florer reported that a religious upsurge in the Soviet Union has also contributed to the success of programs like AA. "People are hungering and thirsting for a spiritual expression that wasn't allowed before. As a result, I hear God mentioned more in AA meetings in Moscow than I do in the United States," he continued.
Now that Florer has completed training the staff of the hospital, he will turn attention this spring to coordinating the new rehabilitation clinic. In a departure from Soviet custom, nurses will play a crucial role as counselors and group leaders.
Although Florer has encountered some resistance on the part of senior doctors and staff to value the contribution of nurses as full members of the health care team, he is convinced that this will change. "We are still dealing with a holdover from the authoritarian structure of the Communist system. I am convinced that our more collegial model will be accepted," Florer said.
Despite the energy and excitement Florer has encountered in Moscow, he suggested that the political climate there could provide challenges to his program ahead. "The scarcity of food and the political turmoil are bound to increase stress on the lives of people. We will have to wait and see how that will play out in the area of substance abuse," he said.
Yet, Florer does not despair for the future. "My Russian translator has introduced me to a healthy dose of humility and makes me aware of my impatience as an American," Florer said. "He always says to me, 'Herb, don't worry. Things are going to unfold in their own time.'"