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Author describes addiction battle By KARLA WHEELER Her doctor advised her to stop "cold ‘Pills keep us dancing faster than we _ turkey," which began her nightmare. should be," says successful CBS fiim When her "worid crumbied‘" she ended maker, Barbara Gordon, who addressed a _ up in the locked ward of a mental hospital, full house audience 2t the Waterloo Motor _ surrounded by "violent schizoids." Inn Monday evening. Eventually, through support from famiâ€" In a lecture called ‘"The Sedation of North America," Gordon, calling herseif the former "tranquilizer queen of midâ€" town Manhattan," gave a witty, candid account of her battle to overcome an addiction to Valium. Tranquilizers are the most frequently prescribed drugs and seem ‘‘ostensibly benign,"" Gordon said. However, as she revealed in her lecture, tranquilizers are physically addictive and can severely cripple peoples‘ emotions. Gordon, who wrote a bestselling autobioâ€" graphy, "I‘m Dancing As Fast As I Can," told why she began taking Valium and about her struggle to kick the addiction. The New York résident, who won three Emmy Awards for her documentary films in the 70s, said her doctor first prescribed Valium to help her deal with stress. "I was having, massive swoops of anxiety,"" Gordon said, and Valium seemed to work wonders. However, years later, when her "world kept shrinking and the terror transcended the anxiety," she realized she was addicted. 50% . ROLL ENDS "vl-lva';her ~than thoroughly analyzing a health problem, the medical profession is quick to prescribe sedatives, she said. Eventually, through support from famiâ€" ly, friends and hospital staff, Gordon started piecing her life back together again. _ But rejoining society wasn‘t easy, she said, particularly since ber job wasn‘t waiting for her. ‘"The word was out. Barbara‘s gone bonkers." She decided to write a book about her trauma, but almost gave up the idea because she thought it would be too revealing. However, she realized, "what did I have to lose? I had already lost evâ€" erything." The 45â€"yearâ€"old author said she believes North Americans have a "real health problem with too many people being made sick" by tranquilizers. Both doctors and patients are to blame for the misuse of sedatives, Gordon said. She claimed that doctors, who have "a chemical arsenal in their prescription pad" are much too anxious to sedate, she noted. _ _ gjcoa. THERS LTD. 490 WEBER ST. N. s :st=~s uP waTERLOG 8384â€"0851 :: ::~>>. One Mile Past King St. Near Lakeshore Village Women are the most frequent victims. Tests have proven that many more women are given tranquilizers than men, she One study Gordon cited involved a group of men and women who had identical health symptoms. The control group visitâ€" ed doctors for treatment. The men were given complete tests for an ‘"organic problem,s‘ she said, while 70 per cent of the women were handed a prescription for tranquilizers. Very few men were given sedatives, she added. However, patients are to blame as well, according to Gordon. Most people don‘t bother to find a good doctor and don‘t take enough interest in what drugs they are given, she said. **People spend more time shopping for a car or a new coat than for a doctor," the author said. Her advice to patients is to choose a thorough doctor and ask questions. ‘"*You have a right to know"" about drugs, she said. Ask your doctor, "what will happen when 1 take it and (what will happen) when I stop." She‘s concerned about women getting ‘‘locked into sedation.‘" Today‘s women have more choices, which often cause confusion, resulting in emotional and ALL QUALITIES WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6. 1981 â€" PAGE 9 s w hss _A ' t5 t se e . . "f w:’“ i 2s ts s P f & a*"mea 5C f $ f;ia’&\ is n efi k oo 2+ xi id s Ei. C el £> .$ 54 € wÂ¥ t f \ 3 fou® [ tere uk 3 i2 °0) A1aeb aq. vad | .\ 0 | _ * se ¢\<§.~\* ; C# t ~!.\9<- S &« C * ns LR £ & 3 Monday‘s lecture was part of Mental Health Week in Canada, which ends May 9, and was sponsored by the Canadian Mental Health Association. A followâ€"up workshop and panel discussion will be held May 11 at the Waterloo Motor Inn, on the subject of ‘"Alternatives to Prescription Drugs." Although she noted she still feels "‘disâ€" connected" at times, she believes she is back in control of her life again. 1 am in control as well as anryone else can be in control of their lives," she said. Gordon is writing a fictional book about three people trying to find a balance in love and work, and hopes the novel will be released by June 1982. In an interview after the lecture, the successful author said the only pills she takes now are vitamin C. Gordon, whose book is being made into a movie starring Jill Clayburgh, said she uses exercise now to relieve stress, and often walks "two hours each morning."‘ physical stress, Gordon said However, she believes women should think twice before taking tranquilizers to calm them. KING ST. FITZGERALD BROS. SCHAEFER ST.