Alcoholism- Disease or Disorder?

[the_hound]

Seeing as though a Theo thread seems to have turned into a debate on whether alcoholism is a disease or disorder I figured I'd create a thread to discuss without ruining the OP's thread.

Myself I believe it is a disorder ........

[calf]

"Alcoholism is a disease, but it's like the only disease that you can get yelled at for having. "Dammit, Otto, you're an alcoholic." "Dammit, Otto, you have lupus." One of those two doesn't sound right. "
-Mitch Hedberg

[the_hound]

Originally Posted by calf

"Alcoholism is a disease, but it's like the only disease that you can get yelled at for having. "Dammit, Otto, you're an alcoholic." "Dammit, Otto, you have lupus." One of those two doesn't sound right. "
-Mitch Hedberg

I love that guy!


RIP Mitch

[Looger]

there's definitely people that are born alchoholics, kids with even mild FAS i grew up with in lillooet for example.

the slightly different physiology of native american peoples the farther north you go, from the na###o that had their own corn alchohol and incrementally towards the inuit the rate of potential alchoholism from just one drink goes up as the population's acclimation to pure-protein diets goes up, according to some studies.

i think with genetic and developmental trends, yes. but when it comes to some guy that is addicted to drinking it can get to be a strained excuse.

good friend of mine, serious drinking buddy from college, was called in for a meeting at his development job to tell him he wouldn't be fired, because he had a disease. news to him and myself, he's lost jobs and even a family due to drinking, we'd both lost college part-time jobs due to not successfully integrating booze and the rest of life.

he was eventually laid off from that job, but an interesting episode nonetheless...

[brownie]

Since we are on the topic,Lets define Alcoholic.I drink mostly every weekend,but it never affects my job.If I have to work the next day I simply dont drink.I myself dont think its a disease,if its a problem in your life you should just quit.Is gambling a disease???Dont think so.An addiction yes Disease no.

[SpitFire40]

Considering it's all mental... it is a disorder.

[troutman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholism

[Dion]

http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/info2/a/aa022697.htm

[JiriHrdina]

Disease? Disorder? Honestly I don't know. What I take issue with is people that alcoholics should "just stop drinking". Problem Solved. Easy piecy.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by SpitFire40

Considering it's all mental... it is a disorder.

It's not all mental, it's a physical addiction. When you don't drink as an alcoholic your body goes through withdrawal.

That said, it's not something you can't overcome since people have been able to stay sober after battling alcoholism.

[the_hound]

Originally Posted by fotze

Well my saying has always been Poker in the front, Liquor in the rear. Has yet to fail me.

I may prefer the other way around

[Looger]

Originally Posted by the_hound

I may prefer the other way around

could be a veiled reference to the caesar...

what's that clamato brand of celery salt called again...?

[SpitFire40]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

It's not all mental, it's a physical addiction. When you don't drink as an alcoholic your body goes through withdrawal.

That said, it's not something you can't overcome since people have been able to stay sober after battling alcoholism.

With the mental will to do so... The effects of being an alcoholic are physical but when it all comes down to it YOU make the decision to drink in the first place.

Addiction is a mental disorder of sorts IMO, where a disease such as Cancer just happens due to some kind of anamoly for whatever reason.

To battle alcoholism it all comes down to lifestyle, respect for the substance and the will to not NEED it.

My family is a good example, my mom's side is from small town Saskatchewan, all they do is drink beer at all times of the day. I have that same blood but I grew up with my dad who was beaten by an alcholic step dad growing up so i've been tought to respect alcohol rather then ignoring the effects that long term, high consumption of alcohol will do to you.

Anyway, that's just my opinion from my personal experiences

[Dion]

If the problems you suffer stem from severe alcoholism or addiction, you must accept that these problems are not primarily mental or free will issues. Addictions are not about will power. The problems facing addicts, alcoholics, and their families are miserable, disgusting, and infuriating. They are often hopelessly discouraging. But to imagine that an addict "could change if he wanted to" is a serious misunderstanding of the long term dynamic of addictive disorder. The fact is precisely that an addict cannot change in the long run even if he wants to! That is the definition of addiction: "the loss of control over the use of a substance." It is important to understand that this loss of control is manifested not in terms of days or weeks, but in longer term behaviors: terms of months and years.

The reason addicts have lost control is because they have suffered permanent physical neurological changes based in their brains and nervous systems. The disorder manifests in long term obsessive-compulsive behaviors outside the realm of the addicts own control. It is true enough that the use of chemicals begins with chosen behavior. But if alcoholism or addiction develops, the problem has moved outside the realm of free choice. It has developed into a long term mental and physical neurological disorder. All the emotional 'feelings' involved in drug or alcohol seeking are based in neurology. Addiction is based in physical dependency created by altered neurotransmitter balances, and driven by millions upon millions of new living, functioning active neurological pathways which have been established to sustain the condition in the addicts brain. The new neurological pathways are permanently established, and they will not just disappear. The primary neurological disorder is only complicated by physical dependence on the substances. The physical dependence on the substances is secondary! Physical drug withdrawal does not change the underlying neurological addictive disorder. After drug withdrawal, long term overpowering cravings are predictable. These cravings are, in reality, spontaneous nerve impulses. Even in the longer term, overwhelming cravings are outside the addicts control.

http://www.medical-online.com/addict.htm

[Vulcan]

I look at the word 'disease' and separate it into 'dis' and 'ease' or to be not at ease. To me, this can be physical, mental or spiritual.
A regular doctor deals with the physical aspect so to him alcoholism may not be a disease but a psychiatrist or spiritual advisor may have a different opinion.

Ok, what's the difference between a drunk and an alcoholic?

A drunk doesn't have to attend any meetings.

[Jiggy_12]

Does it really matter what its called?

Is that going to change anything?

[Looger]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Does it really matter what its called?

Is that going to change anything?

how affected people are treated by employers etc. is changed.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Does it really matter what its called?

Is that going to change anything?

It can change peoples attitudes from outright scorn to a touch of sympathy with the chance treat the problem.

[burn_baby_burn]

Personally, and this is only my opinion, I think a lot of it has to do with will power. My father is an alcoholic. He is drunk every day without question. Other people on both sides of my family are drunks. In my late teens and 20's I drank my fair share. I would get drunk about 2 to 3 times a week. But I never let it affect my job. When I first got out of college I learned pretty quickly that I cound't function after a night of drinking. So I gave up getting hammered on Thursday nights. Now that I am married and have kids, I rarely drink. Allthough I love drinking and when I have a drink, It tastes so good and I feel like having more and more, I know that it isn't the smartest thing to do. So I restrain myself. Maybe seeing what a loser my father is gives me the inspiration not to do it, I don't know. I just know that drunk is no way to go through life.

[Hack&Lube]

This is just semantics. Both disease and disorder can be operatively used to describe alcoholism.

What is important is that it is a genuine addiction and addictions are genuine physiological and neurological afflictions that some people can not "wish away" with will power and should not be taken lightly or insulted as such.

Personally, my biology does not allow me to drink since I have a defective enzyme that doesn't allow me to process alcohol like most of you...but I think I have had my fair share of addictive behavior and neurosis and it's not a pretty picture.