How can something be considered a 'disease' when it is really a choice?

Question

Alcoholism is a good example. I see it as a choice, not a disease. And if alcoholism is a disease, then why isn't smoking, or overeating.

Seems to me that aloholism is an addiction, not a disease.

Answer 1

Welp, since I'm prone to addictions, lemme give you my view on it.

It is my fault for buying the cigarette.
It is my fault for lighting the cigarette.
It is my fault for smoking the cigarette.
It is not my fault for desiring the next one.
It is my fault for lighting the next one.

Nobody forced me to inhale it. I do it because of my own choice. When the time is right, I will quit by my own choice. I made the choice to light one up... but I did not make the choice to become addicted. However, that being said, I allowed addiction to happen.

Now, when it comes to being a disease... it is not my fault or my choice to catch a cold, nor is it my sons' choices or faults to have ADD with a hint of Autism.

Something is a disease if you had no willing part in partaking it. A disease requires a cure. Something is an addiction if you choose to continue on doing so, even knowing (or, being ignorant, willfully or otherwise) how dangerous it is. An addiction requires a willful desire to change your ways (repent) and quit.

Answer 2

What is the justification for your opinion? Alcoholism is a disease. It is not a choice to drink or not once you become an alcoholic. It starts out as a coping mechanism, it works its way into your system, and you're hooked. Once you're an alcoholic, you can't stop. Those who are alcoholics and even attempt to quit cold turkey go into alcoholic delerium, shock, withdrawal, experience hallucinations, termors, and end up in the hospital, sometimes with very damaging results. A syndrome is a functional problem within the body, a disease is an organic problem. Alcoholism is an easily pinpointed organic problem, hence it is a disease. It is a psychiatric and a medical disease, becuase it affects both systems.

To put it clearly, if smoking and overreating were to seriously erode someone's ability to function in everyday life, and it no longer became a choice whether or not to engage in that activity, then it would be labeled a diease. But, as a smoker can easily function in society, while a constant drunk cannot, smoking is not considered a disease.

You have to take everything into consideration.

Answer 3

True alcoholics have lost their choice in drinking. It is a disease of the mind as well as the body. Alcohol enters the system, and the obsession takes over the mind. The body craves the alcohol. It is a type of mental illness. Do some research. Read the book Alcoholics Anonomous. It will answer your question.

Answer 4

All addictions start out as choices, but end up as addictions. Smoking and overeating are addictions and diseases because it requires long-term medical help in order to overcome them.

Answer 5

All of those addictions are in flux as to whether it is a choice or a genuine disease (syndrome would be a better choice of words)

Answer 6

A personal choice may trigger a disease. Drinking Alchol may lead to alcoholism. Overeating may lead to diabetes. Smoking may lead to cancer. And the list goes on....

Answer 7

Addiction is indeed a disease, according to the AMA (American medical Association)

Answer 8

I think it is the reference of your body having that genetic code that makes the occasional drinker vs. the bing drinker different. I also think they classify it as a disease for medical/ insurance reasons. Just a thought. ie. alcholism wouldn't be covered if it wasn't.

Answer 9

the medical doctor who will examine your body will determine whether iit is a disease or not. depends on his findings during said examination of your body and everything in your body always consdult your doctor about your sickness

Answer 10

my disease is candy