Why is alcoholism is considered a disease?
Why isn’t smoking cigarettes a disease also?
I don’t believe it’s a disease. It just givers people an excuse. I believe it’s a CHOICE
still no one answered why alcoholism is a disease and not cigarettes.
They start as a behavior issue, but once physical and mental dependence on the substances begins, then it crosses over into being a disease. You need to look into dopamine and what it does to your brain and body. Then go here, it spells it out quite simply:
http://www.macalester.edu/psychology/whathap/UBNRP/Dopamine/alcoholtobac.html
This is why addicts need mental health support, biochemical support as well as medical support (for the other diseases that both smoking and alcohol abuse eventually cause) when they are trying to quit coke, cigarettes, booze, crack, whatever.
I hope this explains the situation. In the beginning, it may be a choice, but once addiction sets in and their behavior is driven by that need for that feeling brought on by dopamine, then they are in trouble and it IS a disease. Please do not judge people based on their being addicted or not. I have seen wonderfully talented, educated, brilliant people brought down by this. No one would choose a life driven by drugs that may/ will eventually kill them.
The key to breaking an addiction is to break that dopamine reward loop. So, if you are old enough and smart enough to understand this, go here:
http://books.google.com/books?id=OUC4igr3O4sC&pg=PA390&lpg=PA390&dq=dopamine+loop+addicts&source=bl&ots=gxi7UBOomZ&sig=sCdTx5VEWe2ji8a0g7B0MRG1xDc&hl=en&ei=FLP1SZ2GKY-MtgfVnpifDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2
Try searching the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system as well.
Sorry, thumbsdowner, but this is NOT a moral issue, it is a medical and biochemical issue. People need support not judgement if they are ever going to break the cycle, and therefore the addiction. Take off the judge’s robes.
March 11th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
It can give you a disease, but no. It is an addiction. It depends on what the conditions are and it can control people.
References :
March 11th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
they consider it a psychological disorder because it allows organizations like MADD to scare teenagers better.
References :
A smarterer person
March 11th, 2010 at 11:33 pm
It is a choice, but smokers/drinkers want to blame something else to give them an excuse.
References :
Smartest person
March 12th, 2010 at 12:11 am
It is a psychological disorder because, like a drug, it increases the release of endorphins. These endorphins give people a ‘feel-good’/ happy feeling. This becomes addicting to many people which can sometimes turn into alcoholism. So it may not be a ‘disease’ per say, but it is a disorder. You are correct with the fact that alcoholism is very similar to the addiction of cigarettes. In fact, alcohol is worse, because you completely lose your senses under the influence of alcohol. Even though it may not be a disease.. it is not ALWAYS a choice. You always have a choice before getting involved too deeply in drugs and alcohol, but once your addicted, it’s a very hard choice to stop. That’s the point of people telling kids not to drink because they don’t understand the full effects and they go way too and ruin it for themselves.
References :
Health Class:]
March 12th, 2010 at 12:41 am
They start as a behavior issue, but once physical and mental dependence on the substances begins, then it crosses over into being a disease. You need to look into dopamine and what it does to your brain and body. Then go here, it spells it out quite simply:
http://www.macalester.edu/psychology/whathap/UBNRP/Dopamine/alcoholtobac.html
This is why addicts need mental health support, biochemical support as well as medical support (for the other diseases that both smoking and alcohol abuse eventually cause) when they are trying to quit coke, cigarettes, booze, crack, whatever.
I hope this explains the situation. In the beginning, it may be a choice, but once addiction sets in and their behavior is driven by that need for that feeling brought on by dopamine, then they are in trouble and it IS a disease. Please do not judge people based on their being addicted or not. I have seen wonderfully talented, educated, brilliant people brought down by this. No one would choose a life driven by drugs that may/ will eventually kill them.
The key to breaking an addiction is to break that dopamine reward loop. So, if you are old enough and smart enough to understand this, go here:
http://books.google.com/books?id=OUC4igr3O4sC&pg=PA390&lpg=PA390&dq=dopamine+loop+addicts&source=bl&ots=gxi7UBOomZ&sig=sCdTx5VEWe2ji8a0g7B0MRG1xDc&hl=en&ei=FLP1SZ2GKY-MtgfVnpifDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2
Try searching the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system as well.
Sorry, thumbsdowner, but this is NOT a moral issue, it is a medical and biochemical issue. People need support not judgement if they are ever going to break the cycle, and therefore the addiction. Take off the judge’s robes.
References :