I think there's little doubt that those who consume excessive alcohol regularly over long periods are self medicating. I'm almost certain this was so with my aforementioned friend and colleague who died from the effects of alcohol.
Decades earlier he'd been hooked on benzodiazepines and could never seem to get enough of them. He was always concerned about being caught short without them and that his supply might run out before he could get a renewal of his prescription (supply became a problem in the '70s/'80's when doctors became aware that they were addictive and that too many people were abusing them). As he was an organic chemist by training, I used to joke with him that he should concoct up a supply in his kitchen.
For him, benzodiazepines where highly effective (at least so over the short term). I've seen him in a jittering state of nervous anxiety and being totally unable to function yet an hour or so after swallowing a couple of 5mg Valium tablets he'd be as normal and calm as everyone else around him. Of course, by then, it was impossible for me to determine how much of his anxiety etc. was part of his condition and how much was attributable to benzodiazepine withdrawal.
You are lucky that your friend was saved from multiple organ failure just in time with proper care, but that wasn't to be with him. Two or three years ago it would have still been so technically, but in the end his medicos, psychiatrist and his friends were unable to help—as essentially he refused to help himself.
Obviously, good medical care often helps but it seems to me we've still a long way to go before we've alcoholism licked for good.
Decades earlier he'd been hooked on benzodiazepines and could never seem to get enough of them. He was always concerned about being caught short without them and that his supply might run out before he could get a renewal of his prescription (supply became a problem in the '70s/'80's when doctors became aware that they were addictive and that too many people were abusing them). As he was an organic chemist by training, I used to joke with him that he should concoct up a supply in his kitchen.
For him, benzodiazepines where highly effective (at least so over the short term). I've seen him in a jittering state of nervous anxiety and being totally unable to function yet an hour or so after swallowing a couple of 5mg Valium tablets he'd be as normal and calm as everyone else around him. Of course, by then, it was impossible for me to determine how much of his anxiety etc. was part of his condition and how much was attributable to benzodiazepine withdrawal.
You are lucky that your friend was saved from multiple organ failure just in time with proper care, but that wasn't to be with him. Two or three years ago it would have still been so technically, but in the end his medicos, psychiatrist and his friends were unable to help—as essentially he refused to help himself.
Obviously, good medical care often helps but it seems to me we've still a long way to go before we've alcoholism licked for good.