Why Drugs?

I wanted to research on alcoholisms as a disease in this last paper. I have to say I

totally disagree with the American Medical Association that in 1956 decided that

alcoholism is a disease. I feel alcoholism is not a disease with invasive pathology, nor do

I believe that it is a disease of genetics gone awry. Alcoholism has nothing to do with

irresistible impulses or uncontrollable urges. Alcoholism is a disease of volition in my

opinion. In this paper I will discuss why some people feel this is a disease, and why

some people feel this is not a disease, but the choice of the individual.

Since the American Medical Association decided that alcoholism is a disease more

than 30 years ago, and this issue is still debated. I have to ask the question what does

support the concept of alcoholism as a disease. There is an abundance of information out

there on this subject. The research I have done says that it is important to know that

alcoholism is a illness, and no one asked to become chemically dependent, it is not your

fault if you or your loved one is involved in alcoholism. And you should not feel guilty.

You would not blame someone for having caner, or diabetes. Dorland’s Medical

Dictionary defines disease as. “A definite morbid process having a characteristic train of

symptoms; it may be the whole body or any of its parts, and its etiology, pathology, an

prognosis may be known or unknown.” Alcoholism has strong genetic link there is no

major psychiatric disease that does not have genetic links. We are all genetically

predisposed to certain physical and mental illnesses. For example, cancer runs in

families, depression and anxiety run in families, and also alcoholism runs in families.

I think most American’s have been affected in some way by addiction to drugs of

abuse such as alcohol, nicotine, and illicit substances. Yet addiction to alcohol and other

drugs is a phenomenon that has been clouded by myth, misunderstandings and moral

judgments. The vary nature of the problem, what addiction is has long been debated,

most people probably continue to think of addiction as primarily a moral or character

problem. Scientific research into addiction has led experts to conclude that addiction is

actually a disease. (Alcoholism: A Disease)

On the other hand, many people believe that alcoholism is a volitional disease.

“Calling alcoholism a disease infers that there is an invasive pathology present where

none exists. Calling alcoholism a disease infers the possibility of a heritable genetic

lineage with a predetermined immutable eventually where no such heritable genetic link

has been proven. Calling alcoholism a disease infers there is a medicinal cure when no

amount of medicine or counseling can cure this disease.” By calling alcoholism a disease

you are exonerating the alcoholic from all responsibility and accountability of their

drinking. Alcoholism ceases to exist when the alcoholic volitionally chooses to stop

drinking and when they are motivated to change their drinking pattern. (Perkinson,

Robert)

The Webster dictionary defines alcoholism as “the habitual drinking of alcoholic

liquor to excess, or a disease condition caused by this.” This is a pretty accurate

description of someone with alcoholism, but there are some discrepancies in this

definition one being mainly that alcoholism is not a disease, but a belief. Nowhere has it

been proven that the disease exists. Read any literature and the results will not

confidently state it is a disease they will only speculate. The DSM-IV-TR does not

diagnose someone with alcoholism, but rather substance abuse or substance dependence.

They define what Webster would call a diseased condition (alcoholism), a substance

disorder. “As a substance use disorder, ones alcohol or drug use becomes a maladaptive

pattern leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. The impairment or

distress becomes dependence or abuse depending on the extent it interferes with ones life,

and the degree or tolerance or withdrawal experiences. In other words, a psychiatrist

would not diagnose someone with alcoholism, but rather with substance abuse or

substance dependence.” Furthermore, a maladaptive pattern is not a disease.

(Perkinson, Robert)

By looking at the big book of Alcoholic Anonymous there is no mention of alcoholism

being a physical or biological disease, but rather it is referred to as a spiritual disease or

an illness. “To construct of disease theory to alcoholism is closer to being a religion than

it is being a disease. Because in order to believe in the different tenets of disease theory

alcoholism, similar to religion, you must have supported by scientific or doctorial level

research. It is faith, alone which allows these tenets to exist. If you supported disease

theory alcoholism you have to have faith and believe in the following:” Alcoholisms can

afflict anyone regardless of race, creed, religion, etc. Not true for example, Jews and

Mormons have statistically low alcoholism. Alcoholism is heritable; this tenet

completely learned behavior for example, a child learns how to drink from parents, role

models, peers, etc. “If alcoholism were a 10% heritable or genetic trait, then it would be

immutable why? Because genetics cannot be changed volitionally and statistically 85%

of all alcoholics volitionally stop their alcohol consumption without any outside

interventions. If the first drink that gets you drunk, An AA aphorism meaning that once

an alcoholic consumes the first drink, they are then an alcoholic.” This is not true; this is

not even supported by proponents of disease theory alcoholism. Even the proponents of

this theory believe it takes at least several years to develop alcoholism. (Alcoholism: The

Volitional Disease)

In closing, alcoholism is a behavior and behaviors are not disease entities, they are bad

habits. If alcoholism is a disease it is the only disease contracted by an act of will; it is

the only disease that is habit forming and it is the only disease that comes in a bottle. It is

the only disease promoting crime and brutality; it is the only disease playing a major part

in over 50 percent of highway deaths; It is the only disease which is bought in grocery

stores, drug stores, and well marked retail stores, and lastly it is the only disease that is

taxed by the government.

References

Alcoholism: A Disease. Retrieved on August 1, 2003 from, http://www.gmu.edu/facstaff/facultyfacts/1-1/alcoholism.html

Alcoholism: The Volitional Disease. Retrieved on August 1, 2003 from, http://www.holdenpd.com/alcohol1.html

Alcoholism: A Disease, but treatable. Retrieved on August 2, 2003 from, http://www.webhealthcentre.com/general/da_disease.asp

Addiction is a Disease. Retrieved on August 2, 2003 from, http://www.georgebrowm.net/addiction_science.htm

Perkinson, Robert. Alcoholism. Retrieved on August 1, 2003 from, http://www.robertperkinson.com/drug-abuse-treatment.htm