Do you think alcoholism is a disease or a matter of willpower?

Answer 1

It's not will power after you take the first drink and are unable to stop. The medical Profession calls it and all addictions a DISEASE.

once you quit, you do have a fine line and moments of rational thought before you pick up the bottle again.

If you have lived with, known someone who drinks to excess and it's not fun for you or them anymore, there would be no doubt in your mind, that this is not something WILL POWER CAN CONTROL.

WILL POWER keeps you from having the first drink once you have been de-toxed. BUT once you have that first drink, you are back on the merry-go-round of denial.

visit and AA meeting in your area.
If those guys could stop with will power, it wouldn't be such a large organization of people who get together to share comfort, strength and hope.

They think some is good, more is better and too much is just right. some people have fun when they drink, some people can stop at one or 2, or 3. but for other's it's the 1 drink and in the can. no can stop/
Disease??? that's what the Medical profession calls it.
Will Power--- if that worked, then there would be more sober drunks, honestly they wish that they could just have 1-3 and stop!

here is alanon/alateen for those who have someone in their lives that drinks too much and it bothers the person who lives with them,who thinks 'WHY CAN'T THEY JUST STOP?"

TRY A MEETING
and live and learn!
what have you got to lose?
Al-Anon and Alateen
Helps families and friends of alcoholics recover from the effects of living with the problem drinking of a relative or friend.www.al-anon.alateen.org

Answer 2

I think the people who think it's willpower don't really understand it. They say, well I can control my liquor, so there's no reason why you can't. They think willpower is the sole reason they don't. It may be a part of it. But I don't think anyone really knows all the reasons why they do what they do, alchoholism or otherwise.
There is also evidence to suggest that some people have a stronger reaction to alcohol than others. And this may well be genetic.
I'm not sure if it fits the disease model. That's like more of a medical question.

Answer 3

I am a recovering alcoholic with six years sobriety.

When I first joined AA and they talked about alcoholism being a disease, I thought it was a cop-out.

Then I read some articles . . .

. . .

ALCOHOLISM A TRUE ALLERGIC STATE

The inevitable conclusion is that true alcoholism is an allergic state, the result of gradually increasing sensitization by alcohol over a more or less extended period of time. The constancy of the symptoms and progress is too fixed to permit any other explanation. Some are allergic from birth, but the condition usually develops later in life. The development and course of these cases are quite comparable with the history of hay fever patients in many respects. One may enjoy absolute freedom for many years from any susceptibility to pollen. Year after year, however, there gradually develops a sensitivity to it in certain individuals, culminating at last in paroxysms of hay fever that persist indefinitely when the condition is fully established.

I wish I could take an allergy pill and be able to drink, but they haven't come out with that yet.

One drink is too many and a thousand isn't enough.

Answer 4

Doctor's refer to it as a disease. It can be overcome with determination, willpower and a great amount of support. Some people overcome it, some don't. My opinion is that it is a drug addiction that effects certain people. Drugs affect the mind. Often when you try to give them up. Your body is cleansing itself. Which I have been told feels like cravings. The body can and will hurt when withdrawing from substances. It also causes mood swings and other adverse effects. It is a long, hard road to recovery. However, it can be done. Though they will probably have to fight it the rest of their lives. P.S. I'm not an alcoholic. I just know people who are.

Answer 5

Hi! This is a very interesting question you asked! I think that its a disease. I have known people that abuse alcohol and they did not decide to abuse this because it was the matter of their will power. They did drink because of events that affected them and the trauma that they went through. Another factor is that there in so much emotional and physical pain that they want a substance that can make them happy or so they can become more sociable with people. They also might have a mental illness that can cause them to drink excessive amounts of alcohol then people who do not suffer from a mental illness. Like social anxiety and alcohol use disorder (more commonly known as AUD) are linked because alcohol alleviates the persons fear and puts them in a more comfortable position. One person told me that "Alcohol is like a social lubricant." I think that a lot of people think that. Its just the person is in so much pain and there are underlying issues that cause alcoholism that people don't realize.

Answer 6

It's Both!
First, it starts out as a matter of will power and if you keep giving into to your wanting alcohol, you end up drinking more and more. Your body then becomes dependant and you can have withdrawls and become sick give your body does not have the alcohol. This can be just as bad as being addicted to drugs. The side effects may vary some, but they are also very miserable and can make a person very ill.

Answer 7

I believe it's a mental disease not a physical disease. I think it's also a matter of willpower. We all have to WANT to change in order for anything to happen. I do not and will never believe it's a disease like cancer or heart disease.

Answer 8

It's a disease and thats not a cop out. Why would people trash their lives, their health, their relationship with their friends and family if it was just a case of willpower. Alcoholism is a mental illness.

Answer 9

it depends. if someone is only doing it for popularity or peerpressure, i personally dont think it is a dissease. in other cases, i would say yes, it can be a disease. the people make a consious decision to take the first drink though.

Answer 10

A quote from Wikipedia.org

"In medicine, alcoholism is defined as a primary, chronic disease characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking.[1]"