An activist in anti-alcohol campaigns (06/13/99)

An activist in anti-alcohol campaigns

After examining the archives of Dr. Sofia Parfanovych, one is impressed by how much energy she devoted to the anti-alcoholism and anti-nicotine campaign in pre-World War II Halychyna. Alcoholism was already a significant public health issue during the late 19th century in western Ukraine, after the end of serfdom in 1848, which brought with it tremendous social and economic upheaval.

The Ukrainian Catholic Church was the first to address this social ailment. Bishop Mykhailo Levytsky of Peremyshl (1774-1858) published newsletters for all Catholic parish priests describing the widespread problem of alcohol abuse and encouraged the establishment of "sobriety groups" (brotherhoods) at church parishes. The movement gained further momentum under Cardinal Josyf Sembratovych. Enthusiastic priests organized missions and brotherhoods of sobriety.

Many articles on alcohol abuse issues were published in reputable journals and newspapers of the times. Cardinal Josyf Sembratovych's social programs began to make an impact on Ukrainian citizens. Bars and taverns were closed and alcohol production declined. This angered the Polish nobility, which occupied Halychyna at that time and made money from alcohol production and consumption. The anti-alcohol campaign was closely aligned with the movements for Ukrainian rebirth, which also angered Polish nobles. They appealed to state authorities, who then transferred Cardinal Sembratovych to Rome.

The fight against nicotine paralleled the anti-alcohol campaign. The detrimental health effects of nicotine such as lung cancer and heart disease, were emphasized.

Toward the end of the 19th century Ukraine was trying to establish its own identity. The "narodovtsi" assumed leadership of political, cultural and educational programs. They believed that Ukraine had the power to reorganize itself from within among its own people.

The first congress of Vidrodzhennia, the anti-alcohol and anti-nicotine society, was held in Lviv in February 1909. In 1910 Vidrodzhennia had already opened a cooperative store, an alcohol-free teahouse and dairyhouse in Lviv, and presented numerous lectures outlining anti-alcoholism principles. The first world war interrupted the society's activities; after the war Vidrodzhennia reorganized and began expanding.

The society published a monthly journal "My Molodi" (We Are Young) and anti-alcohol handbooks. By 1929 Halychyna had enacted 400 anti-alcohol referendums, of which the Polish government approved only 198, that gave communities the power to close bars and alcohol retail stores.

In February 1929 Vidrodzhennia held its second congress and elected a new board of governors. Soon afterwards, Dr. Ivan Rakovsky, chairman of the society, resigned his post, and Dr. Parfanovych, then vice-chair, took over.

The financial director of Vidrodzhennia was Pylyp Volchuk, who later married Dr. Parfanovych. Under the energetic directorship of Dr. Parfanovych, Vidrodzhennia worked diligently to promote the idea of abstinence.

With its headquarters once again in Lviv, membership grew to 3,000. The publication of brochures, newsletters, books and the journal Vidrodzhennia gained momentum. Contacts and exchanges were established with international abstinence groups. In February 1930 marches and boycotts were organized throughout Lviv; a regional conference was held in Transcarpathia.

In 1931 the Polish government began to terrorize and oppress supporters of Ukrainian nationalism. Poland worked against Vidrodzhennia and its efforts, because a society that is addicted to alcohol and other substances is easy to control. During this oppression the fervor of the rebirth movement grew stronger. Other Ukrainian organizations also joined the abstinence campaign and resisted Polish efforts. These included the Plast Ukrainian Youth Organization, the Ukrainian Women's League and Ridna Shkola.

The publishing activity of Vidrodzhennia continued to increase during the 1930s under the leadership of Dr. Parfanovych. The journal came out monthly; numerous newsletters, articles and books were circulated throughout the communities - 86,000 pieces of literature in 1931 alone. Dr. Parfanovych authored and published numerous books during this period.

In 1934 the Polish government confiscated the Vidrodzhennia journal and began terrorizing and arresting members. That same year marked the 25th anniversary of Vidrodzhennia and commemorative events were organized in Lviv over the objections of the Poles.

Exhaustion, then apathy, began to set in among the communities after the intense fervor of the preceding 25 years. In 1936 the anti-alcohol movement stopped in Hutsulshchyna and Lemkivshchyna, the mountain regions of western Ukraine. This was especially troubling since people there produced alcohol in homemade stills, and this "samohonka" was often poisonous, causing severe illness or even death.

Nonetheless, Vidrodzhennia continued to work slowly but surely. As a result of unsubstantiated criticism by community organizations. Dr. Parfanovych resigned as director in 1937, as did her husband and other members. The activity of Vidrodzhennia continued until 1939, when the invading Soviets disbanded Vidrodzhennia and all Ukrainian national organizations.

Unfortunately 60 years later, in the independent Ukraine of the 1990s, alcohol and drug abuse is flourishing. Vidrodzhennia should be reinstated and should continue the fight against this national catastrophe of substance abuse.

- Dr. Pavlo Pundy

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