Is alcoholism a disease or a disorder?

Answer 1

According to many, it is both. By "disorder," if you mean "mental disorder" -- Alcoholism is an addiction, plain and simple. Many have tried to describe addictions in terms of being purely mental disorders, but, in recent decades especially, have failed.

The US legal system seems reluctant to classify alcoholism as a disease. However, much scientific evidence has been gathered in the past couple of decades to give much credence to the idea that it is a disease. For example, there are genetic differences that can be determined between alcoholics and non-alcoholics. There are also differences between cultures.

Dr. James Milam, in the 1980's, put forth the idea that alcohol is "selectively addictive." What that means is, that it is addicting to some humans, but not to others. Recent research with medicines to affect the addiction also seem to indicate that there are many phisiological and biochemical factors at play.

Research, at present, seems mostly to indicate that it is a disease. Many otherwise well-adjusted people can become addicted to alcohol. Even many well-trained doctors, however, are not adept at making an accurate diagnosis, despite the fact that probably about one in ten people able to obtain and consume alcohol on a regular basis are alcoholic.

The idea that it is a disorder, and somewhat humorous, is perpetuated by those who have not suffered. Jokes and anecdotes are often based on a paradigm of the "Alcoholics Anonymous" self-help program, which has been one of the most successful over the past 70 years. Many people who are addicted to alcohol don't know why: they only know that once they consume alcohol, they find it very difficult to stop.

With regard to the "disorder" concept, there is also a lot of confusion. Most doctors, and most literature, for example, will tell you that alcohol is a "depressant." Physiologically, that is true. However, for some who have adapted to a heavy intake of alcohol, it is a mental stimulant. It causes some people to become sick, or go to sleep. For an alcoholic, on the other hand, it may relieve symptoms of illness and allow the person to function much better than they would be able to (in the short term) if they were not drinking.

From a practical standpoint, it doesn't really matter. Whether a disease or a disorder, a person suffering needs the assistance of people who care. Many people through the decades have tried to help alcoholics, often meeting with disappointment.

With recent advances in medications that have very good benefits, and more scientific study, the treatment of alcoholism appears to be advancing.

One disadvantage to the study of alcoholism may be the prejudices or stereotypes that some people have, and their personal histories. Some, for example, think that all or most people addicted to alcohol are mean, belligerent or abusive. While these characteristics are certainly present in alcoholics, it's likely that they are no less prevalent in people with Diabetes or kidney disease.

In other words, the debate is not over, yet. Recent scientific findings point to alcoholism as being a genetic, biochemical and physical disease, that can easily be stopped by abstinence. Abstinence, for an alcoholic, however, is often very difficult. The legal systems of most countries have not yet decided, despite precedent rulings that alcoholism is a disease.

Nevertheless, there are a great many people who are dedicated to finding better answers for the problem, and progress against this bane of humanity is being made.