Alcoholism: Disease or Addiction

[Puget Sound]

It's not a disease?

Let's ask these people and see what they say...

American Medical Association
American Psychiatric Association
American Hospital Association
American Public Health Association
National Association of Social Workers
World Health Organization
American College of Physicians

All of these groups have classified alcoholism as a disease.

[Photogrrlz]

I think it could be a addiction that turns into a disease.

also, there are people troubled out there by their past and instead of seeking therapy, turn to alcohol and drugs to try to not feel anything...To them its better not to feel anything at all then to feel pain.

[Bluntforcetraum]

We both grew up with the big party life. I look back and I'm glad only one person ever got seriously hurt. With his mom being a diehard alcoholic we were allowed to do pretty much what we wanted. I slowed down turmendiously and he is still going. I think alot of it is he knows his mom is going to die and he doesn't want to think about it.

[zap]

With respect to 7mmMag....I think Contact is right on target with this one.

I was one of the ones who looked around...saw everyone having trouble trying to stop smoking....seeing alcoholics and drunk drivers.... and decided why in the HELL would I want to PAY to be in that position?

It WAS a choice on my part...and yeah...I wasn't invited to the highschool parties either because of it....but it was still a choice.

If I had started drinking would have become addicted or in other words an alcoholic? Who knows...but I have my other addictions...I drink pepsi...some say to excess. I really do like women as well.

I think Contact put it in the right perspective...and honestly, I think that often labeling something a disease is just another way of avoiding personal responsibility. Unfortunately, just like political correctness and the lack of common sense......it seems this is the world we live in.

[Bodie]

I agree it's a very serious disease ...... There I did it again I agreed with PS.
This has got to stop.

Had an uncle who we buried at age 56 he would not stop drinking and his liver failed.
Buried one of my best friends at 35 also no liver.

I have seen alcoholics in th jail and heard them tell the tails of fighting the deamons

[acreature]

Label it as you will, or they for that matter

It all started with the big bang..... Had that first one not been consumed, there wouldn't be a problem


**edit - Zap hit it dead on.... its Society which has allowed Self Responsibility to deteriorate to the level that everything will be labeled a disease eventually. Everything wrong with a person will be medical. Whether it be a dependancy or a character trait.

[Puget Sound]

I agree it's a very serious disease ...... There I did it again I agreed with PS.
This has got to stop.

We really are in some kind of a rut, aren't we?

I think we'll get back on track eventually.

[dnaboy2021]

alcoholism is the only disease you can get yelled at for having example:

dammit bill you're an alcoholic

dammit bill you have lukhemia

one of those two doesnt work

[7mmMag]

Label it as you will, or they for that matter

It all started with the big bang..... Had that first one not been consumed, there wouldn't be a problem



**edit - Zap hit it dead on.... its Society which has allowed Self Responsibility to deteriorate to the level that everything will be labeled a disease eventually. Everything wrong with a person will be medical. Whether it be a dependancy or a character trait.

True, but interesting conversation none the less.

In regards to your edit. I don't contend that for everyone this is a disease. I simply speak from my own experience with what I know about my mother and her history. For her, I do believe this is a disease she will lose to.

[Contact]

I suppose it really depends on how one defines disease. I think of this as a disease, in that this learned behavior is slowly but very surely destoying her health (she is in her forties and weighs about 75 pounds, last I heard) and she will eventually die from it.

I agree with you there, but the fact could be that she uses all her money on alcohol and can not buy food. There are a lot of alcoholics, they can just fund it better.

[Bluntforcetraum]

Im fat 6foot 1 350LBS I could deney responsibility that it was me not taking the fork out of my mouth by blaming it on a thyroid problem or something along that line. I think Zap is right. Society not taking responsability for their actions.

[Java King]

Label it as you will, or they for that matter

It all started with the big bang..... Had that first one not been consumed, there wouldn't be a problem


**edit - Zap hit it dead on.... its Society which has allowed Self Responsibility to deteriorate to the level that everything will be labeled a disease eventually. Everything wrong with a person will be medical. Whether it be a dependancy or a character trait.

I couldn't agree with you more! I see the drunks come into the hospital all the time for rehab. As soon as they leave, they're drunk again, then back in for rehab, then drunk again, then back in for rehab...and so on...and so on....and so on. Life is about choice, you make the choice.

[7mmMag]

I agree with you there, but the fact could be that she uses all her money on alcohol and can not buy food. There are a lot of alcoholics, they can just fund it better.

I'm pretty sure its not a matter of her buying beer in liu of food. My understanding from people who know her, is that her health is simply deteriorating, and that she drinks more that she eats and does not take care of herself.

[concon02]

I suppose it really depends on how one defines disease. I think of this as a disease, in that this learned behavior is slowly but very surely destoying her health (she is in her forties and weighs about 75 pounds, last I heard) and she will eventually die from it.

Not to be cruel, but... That's because she freaking drinks too much. If you're addicted to poison it's going to take it's toll on you physically eventually.

[7mmMag]

Not to be cruel, but... That's because she freaking drinks too much. If you're addicted to poison it's going to take it's toll on you physically eventually.

Well, no **** she drinks too much. What we are discussing is opinions on whether alcoholism is an addiction or disease. In my mothers case, NOT everyones, I feel it is a disease.