Discussion: Can Alcoholism be actually diagnosed as a disease...

[Conzors]

or is it a stupid excuse for Alcoholics?

Discuss.....

[Beastie]

or is it a stupid excuse for Alcoholics?

Discuss.....

This.

[Kerry]

As the daughter of a dead alcoholic father I've never seen it as a disease. Easy for me to excuse it as one if I wanted and I think addictions are appalling life destroying things but alcoholism as a disease no. A tragidy to many lives, yes

[Conzors]

Sorry for your loss Kerry.

And i kinda agree with you Beastie, but i think im on the fence.
I know what its like to have an addiction, and i know how hard it is to try and overcome that addiction. I could see it as a disease if the alcoholic actually goes and seek's help from doctors to try and get their lives back together, and if they actually want to do something about it, and have tried, but cant - then maybe i could see it as a disease.

But if they are lounging about on the streets with a drink in their hand going 'I HAVE A DISEASE' then no, its not a disease just a lousy excuse.
x

[Zippy]

alcoholism can certainly lead to liver disease like hepatitis. But alcoholism in itself is more of an addiction. A compulsive disorder that requires mental strength to combat more than medication.

but its certainly not a stupid excuse. It can really take hold of a person and destroy them just like cancer can. Can be even worse than cancer because it also alters their personality and cause destruction around them as well as destroying them physically.

but technically its an addiction that can lead to disease.

[Josy]

Really bad alcoholism is diagnosed as Korsakoff's syndrome.

[Kerry]

Oh it can certainly cause disease. My dad had kidney failiure, Cirrhosis of the liver and also developed epilepsy (though I'm not convinced that was alcohol related)

[spitfire]

Aids,Measles,Malaria,Mumps etc are diseases.Alcoholism is not.

[Beso]

It already is classed as a disease.ALKEYS GET MONEY FOR HOOCH FROM THE GOVERNMENT EVERY WEEK TO FEED THE HABIT.

[Lee.]

My dad also died of alcoholism and to me it is certainly an illness; and illness which can be treated but never cured.

[MTVN]

Alcoholism itself is an addiction, not a disease imo, it can lead to illnesses obviously though

[Stu]

http://southparkstudios.mtvnimages.com/images/shows/southpark/vertical_video/import/season_09/sp_0914_05_v6.jpg

Depends on your definition of a disease. Thousands of people want to give drugs up in their minds, but their bodies wont let them do it. Sure with amazing, visceral willpower with an eye to bodily harm could see them through it but you really have to have been there. I have not. So I'm not going to act like lord god of the universe with my opinion that they are all filthy degenerate attention seekers and vice versa.

[Lee.]

Most drug dependencies (apart from heroin) are mental addictions.

Alcoholism is a physical dependency. Your body actually begins to need alcohol to function.

['Conor]

i wouldnt call it a disease, its not something you catch.. defo an addiction.

[Tom.]

I don't think its an illness on its own but it comes under the umbrella of addiction. Some people have a genetic predisposition to addiction, so in that sense it is a disease. But its a preventable disease caused by own actions.

[Ninastar]

As I have experienced it in my family it's easy for me to have a bias opinion and say that it is. However, I see it as more of an addiction than a disease or an illness.

[joeysteele]

Well alcoholism is seen as a disease but while its the cause of many illnesses it is one of the cruelest and isolating addictions.
Alcohol is a very dangerous product indeed and for those who come to be reliant on it it brings devastation not only to them but to all their loved ones too.

Once the complications of alcoholism begin then health deteriorates fast,for the alcoholic there is not only the dealing with the illnesses,many life threatening too, but also the fact that becasue they are an alcoholic the dealing with likely relapses once abstaining from drinking it.
Peer pressure makes it so much harder for the alcoholic not to relapse,they cannot always just be around people who don't drink alcohol or understand their illness and problem.
There is always one clever person who will say to the alcoholic, one won't hurt you surely,or even spike their soft drink with alcohol.
The alcoholic who needs and asks for help should get all the support they need,the illnesses from the reliance on alcohol are awful and the fact they are alcoholics often has them segregated and looked down on from others,it is awful.

Many people say, alcoholics want to kill themselves so let them just drink themselves to death, that view could not be more wrong, the alcoholic starts drinking in order to cope with life, so they can go on living their lives in a fashion,then once reliant on it,they have no escape from it.

It is one of the cruelest of diseases and often the alcoholic and their loved ones pay a heavy price from it.More understanding and support is needed and less condemnation and judgement.

[Angus]

As the daughter of an alcoholic father, I can honestly say I couldn't care less whether it's considered an illness or not - a fancy diagnosis does not mitigate the devastating reality of living with someone who loved booze more than his own family.

[joeysteele]

Most drug dependencies (apart from heroin) are mental addictions.

Alcoholism is a physical dependency. Your body actually begins to need alcohol to function.

I agree, they cannot function without it.

One of my cousins is an alcoholic,he doesn't love alcohol more than his family or friends but his need for alcohol pushes those people away.They sometimes cannot see it as an illness,it requires massive patience and support from loved ones,who still love the person but hate the alcohol reliance they have.

It tears families apart but it is a very lonely existence for the alcoholic once people turn away,especially the people they have loved and deep down still do.

It can be treated but never cured,there are support groups to help,but once the complications of Liver disease and all other complications of internal bleeds start then its harder.
Few people would want to be in the alcoholics shoes,I love my cousin and know he cares massively for me too,he tells me how much he hates himslef and cannot cope most of the time,I ignore mentioning the relapse times he has,(he wouldn't be an alcoholic if he didn't relapse),I just let him know I will always be there for him if he needs to talk or anything.

I will never give up on him because of alcohol but I will do all I can to get him to give up alcohol for as long as he is alive and I can help in any way I can.

[Kerry]

As the daughter of an alcoholic father, I can honestly say I couldn't care less whether it's considered an illness or not - a fancy diagnosis does not mitigate the devastating reality of living with someone who loved booze more than his own family.

Very true