27 February

Is alcoholism a disease, or just a choice?

Or, could it be an amalgam of both?

What shall we declare as the criteria for something to qualify as a disease?

Wouldn’t you agree that we need to have standards that are generally acceptable in terms of what constitutes a disease, as opposed to a poor life choice?

I don’t think that you can classify anything that is intentional as a disease. I have always hated alcoholics claiming it as a disease. Try explaining to an 8 year Leukemia patient with an inoperable tumor that alcoholism is a disease. Users and addicts need to be accountable and stop acting like it is something that was done to them.

13 Responses to “Is alcoholism a disease, or just a choice?”

  1. absteal Says:
    February 28th, 2010 at 2:33 am

    I can already see all conflicting answers on this one….

    Is being a druggie a disease? I would think they would be in the same class whatever class that may be
    References :

  2. ServantofGod Says:
    February 28th, 2010 at 3:15 am

    it’s an addiction and not a disease. We always have a choice to stop but it doesn’t mean it will be easy.
    References :

  3. Tayler T. Says:
    February 28th, 2010 at 4:03 am

    alcoholism is a disease and a choice.

    People don’t have to drink, but when they do, sometimes it is impossible for them to stop.

    Not only mentally, but physically. My friend’s mom couldn’t go into rehab but to a hospital bcuz if they took her away from beer cold turkey her withdrawls would kill her.
    References :

  4. rmurdoch23 Says:
    February 28th, 2010 at 4:39 am

    it is a well documented disease with a clear undelrying genetic component. In some people, alcohol is physically addictive in a way similar to opiates or nicotine.
    References :

  5. Bill Says:
    February 28th, 2010 at 5:03 am

    It’s a choice, not a disease. People can drink and get addicted and suffer from a weakened will and therefore have trouble quitting. But to call it a disease is to do violence to the English language. If alcoholism is a disease, what are the germs?
    References :

  6. soalwashere Says:
    February 28th, 2010 at 5:11 am

    i agree this is a tough one, 100% it IS a choice to start drinking, but when you become addicted to something and cant easily stop, they call it a disease in America. But thats not to say that someone Chooses to become addicted or become and alcoholic. the defintion of a disease is "…incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons…" now alcoholism could potentially fall under the developmental error category. so i guess technically yes but i see it as a result from a choice you made.
    References :

  7. Kraig P Says:
    February 28th, 2010 at 5:37 am

    I don’t think that you can classify anything that is intentional as a disease. I have always hated alcoholics claiming it as a disease. Try explaining to an 8 year Leukemia patient with an inoperable tumor that alcoholism is a disease. Users and addicts need to be accountable and stop acting like it is something that was done to them.
    References :
    Family History of alchoholic martyrs

  8. stripedspider Says:
    February 28th, 2010 at 6:11 am

    It’s a disease. I’ve known some alcoholics, and they generally have three personalities. When sober, they’re usual pleasant people. When craving alcohol, they’re melancholy. When roaring drunk, they’re brutish and mean. There is no in between stage between sober and roaring drunk. I’ve seen very, very good people turn into very, very bad people in the blink of an eye. The poor choices happen after the alcohol is in their system. The drinking happens because they think they need it.
    References :

  9. Elissa B Says:
    February 28th, 2010 at 6:29 am

    its an addiction. my father and my friends father are both drunks. after a while you cant stop and yoou could develope i disease in your liver or brain, but the drinking it itself is not a disease.
    References :

  10. Badger Fan Says:
    February 28th, 2010 at 6:58 am

    Earlier in history, alcoholism may have been an most unfortunate side effect of unsanitary water supply. However, even in those days, alcoholism would most likely have been a dangerous and often deadly mental security blanket that started as a choice.
    References :

  11. rezaur@rogers.com Says:
    February 28th, 2010 at 7:21 am

    alcoholism… is not disease … it is a choice… ! and people get addicted to it..! for whatever psychological reason it may be !!!
    References :

  12. dtwladyhawk Says:
    February 28th, 2010 at 7:56 am

    Ok, I’m a professional so listen. Yes, it begins as a choice just like getting a puppy. Then the disease kicks in, all of your friends can be drunk and you’ll still be drinking because your body becomes used to the alcohol and needs more and more for the same effect. It’s a cycle. Now they call that a ‘disease’, to me it’s a physical dependency. Once you start getting sick because of it then it’s a disease. For example: the tolerance time line is different for all. I have had an 86 yr old man in treatment still drinking with a .40 BAL and I have had a 14 yr old boy whose liver is shot. So, the puppy can turn into a very big wolf.
    References :
    psychiatric social worker and addictions counsellor

  13. tehabwa Says:
    February 28th, 2010 at 8:31 am

    "just a choice"?

    No, it’s not a choice. No one chooses to become adicted to any substance.

    If you wanted to understand additiction, or alcoholism specifically, you could read up on it.

    But clearly, it isn’t about "choice" — it IS a medical, physiological thing.

    There’s a genetic component; and there are differences in addicts’ brains.
    References :

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