Dr Herbert Kleber Honoured With Google Doodle: 5 Things To Know About The American Psychiatrist Who Pioneered Addiction Treatment

Google on Tuesday honoured Dr Herbert David Kleber, the famous American psychiatrist and substance abuse researcher with a doodle, for his pioneering work in psychology. The Google doodle marks the 23rd anniversary of his election to the prestigious National Academy of Medicine. Born on June 19, 1934, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dr Kleber attended Dartmouth College. The Google doodle shows him listening to a patient while noting down something. It also illustrates how his treatment has helped people lead better lives. As we celebrate the great mind, we have compiled a list of 5 important facts from the life of the doctor. Herbert David Kleber Google Doodle: Search Giant Celebrates American Psychiatrist's Contribution to 'Addiction Research Treatment'; Here's All About The Researcher.

He was studying for pre-med when he discovered his passion for psychology. Thereafter, he was assigned to the Public Health Service Prison Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, upon completing his psychiatric residency at Yale University. He did not view addiction as a moral failure but as a medical condition. After noticing that most of the patients would relapse after release, he began to develop new research called "evidence-based treatment".

1. Dr Kleber was called one of the "Best Doctors in America" and "Best Doctors in New York" for his exemplary contributions towards saving drug addicts.

2.  He once said he was a "perpetual optimist" and that his optimism was a major factor that helped him work with addicts for 40 years.

3. Dr Kleber's successful approach towards treating addiction gained the attention of President George H W Bush, who appointed him Deputy Director for Demand Reduction at the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

4. Dr Kleber’s policies led to a decrease in demand for illegal drugs, all through programmes that focused on education, prevention and treatment of addicts.

5. As the co-founder of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, he reframed the field of substance abuse research and treatment as a medical discipline.

Dr Herbert did not punish or shame his patients like his predecessors did, but rather stressed on the importance of research and helped patients to recover and avoid relapse. Dr Kleber’s successful approach garnered the attention of President George H W Bush, who appointed him Deputy Director for Demand Reduction at the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Being the co-founder of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Dr Kleber was instrumental in reframing the field of substance abuse research and treatment as a medical discipline. The Google doodle has been illustrated by Massachusetts-based artist and author of the graphic memoir Hey, Kiddo Jarrett J Krosoczka.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 01, 2019 09:20 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).