Do You Believe Alcoholism Is A Disease?

Question

This has always had me wondering.
I believe Alcoholism a mental disorder not a disease.
One reason I say this is b/c Depression, Anxiety, etc. are not diseases but mental disorders. And they manifest certain uncontrollable behaviors.
I believe Alcoholism is classified as a disease is for insurance benefits.
BTW, does anyone know what year this classification was made. I was thinking in the early 70's.

I have to argue with those that think alcoholism is a "choice".
It's an addiction just like cigarettes, etc.
Sure they started, but don't we all do things we probably shouldn't and then get "hooked" on it?
It's uncontrollable. (source: too many friends & family members w/ the problem)

Answer 1

I think saying that it's a disease is an excuse for not being able to control yourself.

IT IS A CHOICE! I smoked for 5 years and quit cold turkey when I found out I was pregnant, no problems. Peoples addictions are all in their minds. Why doesn't anyone want to take responsibility for themselves? it's sad. Of course we all do things that are bad for us (eating cheesecake, driving without a seat belt) But you make your own choices. You reach for that bottle, you reach for that beer. It a conscious choice.

Answer 2

You are definitely misinformed about alcoholism! I've had a ton of experience with the DISEASE of alcoholism and the only way that it could not be a disease is if it were only a new age way of looking at the problem! Here's the cinch! When a alcoholic recovers from drinking he may be sober for say 1 to 65 years old BUT when that person takes a couple drinks facts state that approx. 70% or more will reawakin the disease and simply start drinking again! A lot of folks in A.A. had been sober through A.A. for most of their life...say 40 to 60 years but if they drink, they die or end up dying drunk! The other way I find helpful as far as explaining the disease is "when any
alcoholic, even if sober for many years, and let's say goes to a wedding or party and decides to have a couple glasses of champagne or whatever (I guess it really doesn't matter what as long as it has an alcohol content!) but after taking those couple drinks, even if the person tells him or herself repeatedly that there only going to have a couple and then stop CAN'T STOP!
That is part of the disease and/or the allergy to alcohol!! The craving become so severe in no time at all that they once again become powerless and simply finish off the drunk! Kind of like cigerette smoking if you will. Now matter how long you've quit it just take 1 cigerette to start the cravings all over again because you got all that nicotine back in your system. It works almost exactly like that with drinking for an alcoholic accept the alcoholic craving are much much worse! I hope this helps a little! So yes up til now all science and a big % of Dr.'s considered alcoholism a disease and an allergy. Is it partly a disease of the mind? Of course it is but rather than only being really depressed and alcoholic finds out the hard way that the disease is extremely physical too! John

Answer 3

Disease by nature is a progressive problem within your body. Most of the people answering your question don't realize that anything going wrong can be considered a disease by definition if it continues. Alcoholism is when you reach a point where you don't drink willingly ~ you do so unwillingly. Certain factors contribute to alcoholism, and it has been proven that if your parents are alcoholic that you can quite easily become alcoholic. Its a psychological yet physiological thing. Your parent's drinking affects your psychology in a way that your brain/brain chemicals are slightly different. That difference makes it easier for you to become an alcoholic. Alcoholism would be the disease.

Answer 4

Yes I would agree that it is not a disease - a disease implies more of something that can be caught by any person regardless of their mental state - like bacterial or viral infections.

But no, I also wouldn't state "alcoholism is a mental disorder". I would say that "alcoholism" per se (meaning the addiction to alcohol) is a condition. Meaning that I would describe it as more of a SYMPTOM of a disorder than a disorder in its own right; the under-lying disorder being a distinct propensity towards addiction. Many, many disparate people manifest addictions, the symptoms are incredibly alike and the only difference is in the substance or behaviour that ends up being abused - for some it is alcohol, for others drugs, for yet others it is food. It is an understudied area which I have reason to feel strongly about - and I feel that labelling it (alcoholism, other addictions) as a disease is deeply misjudged, and highly counter-productive in many if not most cases.

Answer 5

To the person that suffers from alcoholism it can be a life threatening disease, alcohol is the only drug that if abruptly stopped has the potential to cause death (D/Ts). Looking back at our families there seems to be a pattern of alcoholism on my wife's side, father died from alcohol related disease at 53. My side brings depression to the table, guess what? 3 of my 4 children have problems with drugs and alcohol. I think that you are correct, drug and alcohol abuse is in the "Disease" category for $$ insurance and maybe to allow people to come forward to seek help with the idea that it is a disease rather than a MENTAL problem.

Answer 6

NO! It's nice to say that if you want an excuse or to leave a back door open for failure. Unfortunately, most treatment centers will agree with that philosophy because they do a horrible job treating it and can't produce results stable enough to say, "you can recover." But a few do produce those results. I am a product of one and am now an interventionist. This can be handled no matter what the hopeless things the majority will tell you.

Answer 7

I think many addictions are rooted in mental disorders and have a very real physical aspect, and alchohol is one of them.

Some addictions are the physical result of bad judgement. Some substances are so addictive that there is no mental aspect to it. One try and you're physically addicted.

Other addictions are purely psychological, like porn.


Alcoholism is somewhere in the middle... There's often a mental aspect, but because the addiction is to a substance, a chemical, there is definitely a physical aspect.

Answer 8

In my opinion, a disease is caused by a virus or some sort of a bug. Therefore how can alcoholism be rightfully called a disease. It is definitely a disorder. By calling it a disease makes it sound a little more acceptable to society and thus making it sound less like something that is brought on by self abuse.
I believe you are correct in assuming it is a disorder

Answer 9

I agree alcoholism should be classified an illness. I'm uncomfortable with it being a "disease."

Answer 10

What a very interesting question, I too will be looking forward to read the serous answers