Is being an alcholic a disease or just an excuse?!
Is being an alcholic a disease or just an excuse?
for being an alcoholic. And if it a disease then wouldnt someone that is addicted to crack cocaine, heroin and cigarettes have a disease also. And what about sex addicts and over eaters they must also have a disease.
Answers:
The World Health Organisation, W.H.O. has recognised Alcoholism as a disease for several decades. The reason for this is that they recognise that there is something inherently different in the physical and mental make up of the Alcoholic which reacts to what would be accepted as non addictive amounts of alcohol.
With nearly all other drug addictions it is the drug itself which causes the addiction. With Alcohol it seems that it is the alcoholic himself /herself who is predisposed to the neurochemical effects of ethyl alcohol.
Since the advent of neurochemical mapping technology, there have been a number of excellent studies which show a consistent neurochemical pattern in the brains of Alcoholics and their offspring, even though those offspring have NEVER drunk alcohol.
With overeaters and sex addicts, you can usually find that there is an event or series of events in their growing up which leads to their later behavior. These are usually of the sexual abuse variety. With alcoholics there are many situations where the alcoholic in fact came from a good family background but the effect alcohol had on them from a mental, physical and spiritual point of view, differentiates them from other drinkers.
Source(s):
Double major in Psychology and a life time of study of the subject of Alcoholism because of having both a mother and father who are alcoholics. I have interviewed and talked with thousands of Alcoholics over the last 30 years.
You need to research the clinical definition of disease and addiction. One you know the medical uses of the words, you may be able to answer your own question. If you can't, then you are getting into the realm of speculation and political correctness. Two good things to avoid!
Addiction is a very serious progressive disease, and all those unfortunately addict ted to cocaine, heroin, and even alcohol have a disease. It is not a excuse
disease i know i hear it all the time and thats because i am rehab for 6 months