Do you think Alcoholism is a DISEASE?

Question

or do you think addiction is DIFFERENT from a disease. Do you think they are perhaps using the wrong word when they say DISEASE or do you think it is accurate?

Answer 1

i've always had a problem with that designation
in a literal sense, yes
it is a dis - ease ing condition
for some it may be a true physiological affliction
for others it may be rooted in a psychological condition
as for myself
its just a lifestyle that i have conciously chosen

Answer 2

It makes no difference what label you put on substance dependence. Whether you call it a disease, a disorder, a condition or whatever, it doesn't matter. The point is it's a problem alot of people have. It can be treated and people can recover from it. Some people say it's not a disease and people make the decision themselves to drink or use drugs. Yes, they do start using by their own will. But I can't imagine any person wanting to become an alcoholic or a drug addict. There is always some underlying issue or reason as to why a person would start to use substances.

Answer 3

No, I don't think they're using the wrong word. Alcoholism IS a disease. Alcoholism is a disease with four main features:
1) Craving - a strong need to drink
2) Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
3) Physical dependence – withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
4) Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get “high”

Alcoholism is hereditary, genetic.
Research has shown conclusively that familial transmission of alcoholism risk is at least in part genetic and not just the result of family environment (1). The task of current science is to identify what a person inherits that increases vulnerability to alcoholism and how inherited factors interact with the environment to cause disease. This information will provide the basis for identifying people at risk and for developing behavioral and pharmacologic approaches to prevent and treat alcohol problems. The advances being made now are built on the discovery 50 years ago of the role in inheritance of DNA, the genetic material in cells that serves as a blueprint for the proteins that direct life processes. Alcoholism research, like other fields, is capitalizing on the scientific spinoffs of this milestone, among them the Human Genome Project and related efforts to sequence the genomes, the complete DNA sequences, of selected animals.

Answer 4

I think an addiction is something that is genetic. Not necessarily a disease that is "contagious" but definitely carried through the genes. It is something that must be controlled, it is a disorder, at the very least. An addiction can be to anything, however, whether it be alchohol, drugs, certain types of foods, different activities. An addiction to working out, even, can be hazardous. So, yes, I believe it is a disease, but a genetic one.

Answer 5

I have lived with an alcoholic for 18 years and I totally believe that it is a serious disease.......My father also an alcoholic for many years I think that just like any addict it is a sickness who wants to be any of these things even obesity (who wants to be fat and made fun of) they depress you make you cry and can sometimes drive some people to suicide...........ask the same question in 50 years will be the same answer.....

Answer 6

Yes. Alcoholism is a chronic, often progressive disease with symptoms that include a strong need to drink despite negative consequences, such as serious job or health problems. Like many other diseases, it has a generally predictable course, has recognized symptoms, and is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors that are being increasingly well defined.

Answer 7

Disease, shmisease. Until the DSMV-IV recognizes "alcoholism", I'd stick with peer-approved research, versus bogus magazine features that purport some unproven "single-gene theory" as the reason for this so-called dis-ease. If you have to do time in A.A. and want to avoid catching the disease, then don't announce yourself as an alcoholic. Remember that "A.A. does not demand that you believe anything." 1.

Answer 8

I believe that alcoholism is an addiction.

It has been converted to a disease so that insurance will pay for treatment, and it makes the alkie feel better since it's not their fault they have a disease.

Answer 9

i used to think so since my sister had such a horrible addiction to it for 30 years. so much that it affected her brain and her life style was literally in the streets. she never worked her brain was demented etc. rehabs didn't help nothing did. she was in and out of hospitals. 6 months ago she chose to quit that life style and she is now working her brain seems to be just fine she is actually a normal human being because she CHOSE to quit. so i think it is a choice, quitting is hard as heck but can be done if the person wants it.

Answer 10

i think to call it a disease is accurate, it runs in families it is in your genes