Is alcoholism a disease or a lifestyle habit?
I think is is NOT an illness as many of you are brainwashed to believe but a lifestyle that can be altered.
It all depends on what you define an "illness" to be.
Tuberculosis is an illness, diabetes is an illness, and cancer is an illness. You would have it that the major difference between these conditions and alcoholism is that none of those conditions are caused by any conscious choice of the afflicted.
Gingivitis is an illness, but that is easily preventable by regular brushing and flossing.
Malaria is an illness, but that is easily preventable by pest control.
AIDS is an illness, but that is easily preventable by using a condom.
The flu is an illness, but that can be easily prevented by getting a flu shot.
YET…
Alcoholism is not an illness because the alcoholic has become such by behaving in the same way as millions of people are able to do every day without any serious consequence?
Does the future alcoholic have any forewarning that, while in his teens and early twenties, he or she will ultimately be unable to control the behavior that seemingly everyone else around him/her is safely engaging in?
In case you haven’t noticed, I happen to deal with alcoholism on a daily basis. Do you think I planned to become an alcoholic? Do you think I have a choice whether or not I have to deal with this horrible condition each and every day I wake up? Do you think that I would not give anything to be able to have a social drink like a normal person?
Yes, I have a choice whether to take that first drink or not. What I do not have a choice in is whether that one drink will send me back to that horrible place I try each and every day to avoid.
I don’t give a rat’s azz whether you think it is a disease or an addiction. Just don’t go around saying someone can choose to be or not be an alcoholic by the lifestyle choices they make. You will get more sympathy from telling a plane crash victim that they shouldn’t have made the choice to get on that plane.
February 22nd, 2010 at 1:04 am
Alcoholism is a disease.
Going out and getting drunk can be a lifestyle choice.
You should talk to your doctor to see which one you have.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 1:42 am
I believe it is both. Until a person fixes what is going on inside them to bring on the alcoholism they cannot change their lifestyle. Growing up in a household and family history of alcoholism I have witnessed all sides.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 2:08 am
Alcoholism is a disease which can be remedied by behavior modification. I say it is a disease since I have seen lots of it in my family. There may be genetic tendencies which I think may be from needing more of certain nutrients or having a different metabolism. Certainly for Native Americans, alcohol is like a poison. Some people are much more susceptible than others.
If you take the alcohol away, the person won’t get drunk, but it doesn’t mean that their metabolism or tendency to have the problem with alcohol have been cured.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 2:25 am
It is a lifestyle that is chosen by a person who overindulges, which in turn becomes a disease once that person get to the point they cannot do without it.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 2:55 am
Alcoholism is a disease. An alcoholic is an addict. There is a big difference between a person who has a couple drinks every once in a while, and a person who drinks or does drugs to alter their mood or mind state. Addictive behavior is a very ugly disease that never goes away, but with proper lifestyle changes, can be controlled. Getting a higher power and reaching out to other recovered addicts is a couple of ways to help against this disease.
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I have had the disease for over 17 years
February 22nd, 2010 at 3:22 am
It’s a disease. If you want proof, then get drinking, go on I dare ya.
It causes a chemical reaction in the brain that the alcoholic comes to need.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 4:11 am
Alcoholism is a disease caused by a lifestyle habit.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 4:37 am
It all depends on what you define an "illness" to be.
Tuberculosis is an illness, diabetes is an illness, and cancer is an illness. You would have it that the major difference between these conditions and alcoholism is that none of those conditions are caused by any conscious choice of the afflicted.
Gingivitis is an illness, but that is easily preventable by regular brushing and flossing.
Malaria is an illness, but that is easily preventable by pest control.
AIDS is an illness, but that is easily preventable by using a condom.
The flu is an illness, but that can be easily prevented by getting a flu shot.
YET…
Alcoholism is not an illness because the alcoholic has become such by behaving in the same way as millions of people are able to do every day without any serious consequence?
Does the future alcoholic have any forewarning that, while in his teens and early twenties, he or she will ultimately be unable to control the behavior that seemingly everyone else around him/her is safely engaging in?
In case you haven’t noticed, I happen to deal with alcoholism on a daily basis. Do you think I planned to become an alcoholic? Do you think I have a choice whether or not I have to deal with this horrible condition each and every day I wake up? Do you think that I would not give anything to be able to have a social drink like a normal person?
Yes, I have a choice whether to take that first drink or not. What I do not have a choice in is whether that one drink will send me back to that horrible place I try each and every day to avoid.
I don’t give a rat’s azz whether you think it is a disease or an addiction. Just don’t go around saying someone can choose to be or not be an alcoholic by the lifestyle choices they make. You will get more sympathy from telling a plane crash victim that they shouldn’t have made the choice to get on that plane.
References :