George McGovern's tragic tale of his alcoholic daughter - the human cost of addiction - and a host of innovative treatments, in this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge.

SEGMENT 1

Former U.S. Senator George McGovern is a hero to millions of Americans who opposed the Vietnam War. McGovern's public acclaim is matched by private tragedy -- his daughter battled alcoholism for years; it finally killed her in 1994. McGovern tells her story in a memoir called "Terry" and in this conversation with Jim Fleming.

SEGMENT 2

Science writer Stephen Braun describes to Steve Paulson the biochemical effects of alcohol on the human brain and explains why anti-depressant medications seem to help some alcoholics. Braun is the author of "Buzz: The Science and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine." Also, addiction expert and self-described iconoclast Stanton Peele tells Judith Strasser what's wrong with Alcoholics Anonymous and describes what he considers more effective therapeutic treatment strategies.

SEGMENT 3:

California writer Carolyn See chronicled her life in a family ravaged by alcoholism in a memoir called "Drinking: Hard Luck and Good Times in America." No teetotaler, See rejects what she considers America's puritannical attitude towards alcohol. She tells Steve Paulson why.

Distribution dates:

• week of 07/21/96 - hour 1
• week of 06/29/97 - hour 1