Alcoholism-disease or weakness of will

[Karen-Annie]

Remember a while back there was a thread about whether or not alcoholism was a disease? This week's Time magazine has a very interesting article on that very subject and addiction in general.It's kind of long but a really interesting read.I'll post the link below:

The chemistry of addiction (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1640436,00.html)

[Lance]

Its a strength of will. "I want a beer and noting on this earth will stop me from having one dam it !" /ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/beerchug.gif

[kim gagnon]

little early dont cha think!! lol

[Bufford]

weakness of will same for over eating.

[Karen-Annie]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bufford</div><div class="ubbcode-body">weakness of will same for over eating. </div></div>

Did you bother to read the article first?

[Tutones]

I think the point of the thread is to read the article, not debate the issue. Thanks for the link K-A!

[BrAt]

I believe it is a weakness of will to begin with which turns into the addiction/disease, but I will go read the article and maybe change my mind. lol

[1337]

An addictive personality is not a disease. Its like saying a happy person is diseased.

Its a matter of will. My father quit drinking, not by some pill or chemo or any other treatment, other than saying I'M STOPPING THIS BULLSHOOT!

p.s. loved the article, but its still not a disease.

[mags]

Interesting article. I think that alcholism is a disease? I also believe that their people who drink too excess who would like to claim alcholism but it is just a weakness or lack of control.

[BrAt]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JumbaMya</div><div class="ubbcode-body">An addictive personality is not a disease. Its like saying a happy person is diseased.

Its a matter of will. My father quit drinking, not by some pill or chemo or any other treatment, other than saying I'M STOPPING THIS BULLSHOOT!

p.s. loved the article, but its still not a disease. </div></div>


An addictive personality is different than addictive behaviour.

When someone starts smoking... are they doing it because they're already an addict? No, they do it because of weakness. But when they try to quit it's hard because it's become an addiction. The same goes for drugs, alcohol, (sometimes) sex, shopping... many many things that all begin because someone WANTS to do these things. It then (sometimes) turns into them NEEDING them.

I don't believe that it's a disease per se, but it's definitely an addiction. That is why I do not agree with some places giving people disability because of alcoholism. It's an addiction that can be broken.

[kim gagnon]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JumbaMya</div><div class="ubbcode-body">An addictive personality is not a disease. Its like saying a happy person is diseased.

Its a matter of will. My father quit drinking, not by some pill or chemo or any other treatment, other than saying I'M STOPPING THIS BULLSHOOT!

p.s. loved the article, but its still not a disease. </div></div>

i disagree, it is a disese.

[t1000]

That's ok you've taken the first step and admitted you have a problem harley,you're on the road to recovery now! LOL /ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/beerchug.gif

[kim gagnon]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evil twin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That's ok you've taken the first step and admitted you have a problem harley,you're on the road to recovery now! LOL /ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/beerchug.gif </div></div>
oh boy. lol

[adigirl]

I think it is a behavior. However, there are people that are more likely to become an addict due to their chemistry. However, they still need to pick up the drink to make it a problem.

[kim gagnon]

i'll be picking up a problem after work .lol

[§ienna]

Thank you for posting this Karen-annie, a VERY interesting article, I bookmarked it so I can read all of it, when I get home. /ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

[§ienna]

Interesting, alcolholism and addictive behaviors has been on the increase throughout the years, yet, the treatment has barely improved in the past decade.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">"The sad part is that if you look at where addiction treatment was 10 years ago, it hasn't gotten much better," says Dr. Martin Paulus, a professor of psychiatry at the University of California at San Diego. "You have a better chance to do well after many types of cancer than you have of recovering from methamphetamine dependence."

That could all be about to change. During those same 10 years, researchers have made extraordinary progress in understanding the physical basis of addiction.</div></div>

[Karen-Annie]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sienna</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Interesting, alcolholism and addictive behaviors has been on the increase throughout the years, yet, the treatment has barely improved in the past decade.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">"The sad part is that if you look at where addiction treatment was 10 years ago, it hasn't gotten much better," says Dr. Martin Paulus, a professor of psychiatry at the University of California at San Diego. "You have a better chance to do well after many types of cancer than you have of recovering from methamphetamine dependence."

That could all be about to change. During those same 10 years, researchers have made extraordinary progress in understanding the physical basis of addiction.</div></div> </div></div>

I think the problem was that for eons addictions were looked as"weakeness of will".It is only as medical technology has advanced that the mechanics and chemistry of addiction can be investigated,documented and thus have treatments be developed based on those findings.

And as these threads on this topic have shown,a large proportion of the population look at it as a simple failure of will-there are no runs/walks or telethons or bracelets or requests for donations in obits to raise funds for medical research into addiction research and treatment.

[bLiNd_SiDeD]

Well all I can say if from my experience, my ex was an alcoholic, and I believe it to be more of a will power issue. He used it as a crutch, so that he wouldn't have to deal with stuff that happened to him in the past, when things went good he was sober went things started getting rocky he'de reach for a case of beer, it was easier for him to grab a beer than deal with stuff head on, therefore I belive it to be a will power issue. JMO.

[dancingqueen]

It is a disease, it has been scientificly prooven for many years to be a disease. if it was just a bad habit then people would kick the habit once the realize they where destroying their family, lives, children, people around them. ect... but people that are alcoholics CAN'T it's not a wont, it is a can't.

[tippikitty]

DQ dontcha know there is no such word as "CAN'T"?

[adigirl]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dancingqueen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It is a disease, it has been scientificly prooven for many years to be a disease. if it was just a bad habit then people would kick the habit once the realize they where destroying their family, lives, children, people around them. ect... but people that are alcoholics CAN'T it's not a wont, it is a can't. </div></div>

Actually it is not scientifically proven to be a disease. The medical profession is in a debate about it. There needs to be more research put into it for sure!

[Geoff7983]

The government of Canada considers alcoholism as a disease, as do I, If you haven't been there its hard to relate and easier to just say its a lack of will power, but unfortunetly when your caught up in active addiction its not really your will anymore...

[MichiganJFrog]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Geoff7983</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The government of Canada considers alcoholism as a disease, as do I, If you haven't been there its hard to relate and easier to just say its a lack of will power, but unfortunetly when your caught up in active addiction its not really your will anymore... </div></div>

agreed.

[tippikitty]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Geoff7983</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The government of Canada considers alcoholism as a disease, as do I, If you haven't been there its hard to relate and easier to just say its a lack of will power, but unfortunetly when your caught up in active addiction its not really your will anymore... </div></div>

Your right it's not will nor is it a disease it is an addiction.