ALCOHOLISM IS A DISEASE

Alcoholism Is a Disease

Alcoholism Is a Disease

Introduction

Alcoholism, understood as a disease, is viewed as an illness which the alcoholic is not personally responsible for having contracted. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence defines alcoholism as “a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations.” As such, alcoholism is a medical disorder that produces the symptoms of alcoholic behavior. The illness is further understood to be incurable but controllable by total abstinence. This view is supported by the American Medical Association, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and Alcoholics Anonymous, the world's largest self-help program for alcoholics. Also, according to a 1987 Gallup Poll, 87 percent of Americans considered alcoholism a disease. Supporters of this interpretation also point to recent scientific research that may link alcoholism to genetic makeup.

Although widely supported by many alcohol experts and researchers, this definition became more controversial by the end of the twentieth century. Many behavioral scientists and sociologists rejected the idea of alcoholism as a disease. The concept supported by these social scientists concentrates on the behavior of excessive drinking itself. This understanding gained support in the 1990s when the World Health Organization abandoned the concept of alcoholism as a disease in favor of a broader understanding that more clearly incorporated social and cultural issues (Vaillant, 2011).

Thesis Statement

The papers discuss how alcoholism has become a disease and affecting the society as a whole.

Discussion and Analysis

Alcohol abuse is one of the major threats to health in the U.S. The prevalence of alcoholism in the U.S. has been estimated to fall between 2 and 9% of the population. Each year 10% of all deaths are related to alcohol use. Chronic alcoholism and alcohol-related disorders can be physically, psychologically, and economically devastating to patients and their families.

Alcoholism Is a Disease

There are many options that exist which are available for the treatment for alcoholism. It is a universally accepted fact that alcoholism is a disease. Sure, the consumption of alcohol starts out as a voluntary act. But it can quickly grow into an overpowering addiction, one that begins to rule and ruin your life. Contrary to the popular belief of many people, alcoholism is by no means a victimless crime. On the contrary, Alcoholism is the seed that germinates a myriad of other problems, be they financial, marital, social, legal, or otherwise. The good news is that alcoholism can be treated. And there are a number of different options available, at your disposal, to choose from, depending on your particular circumstances, your needs, and your preferences (www.ncadd.org).

The simplest form of treatment for alcoholism is just wake up one day and makes the conscious decision that you are going to quit drinking alcohol, cold turkey. This may sound all well and good. But to quit alcohol, cold turkey, is a feat that is a great deal easier said than done. In fact, if it were that easy to just give up alcohol, ...