Addiction to Alcohol/Alcohol and Desease

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Expert: - 8/6/2009


Question
How did the consumption of alcohol become a desese? I always believed that a desease was natural and not self inflicted. If drinking to a point of no self control would it not also apply to the drug addicts too or overeaters etc, etc.

Answer

Beverley Glazer MA., I
Hi Gesus,

It's a long story but basically in 1951 the World Health Organization acknowledged that alcoholism is a serious health problem and the American Medical Association declared it as a treatable illness in 1956. The actual 'disease model' is attributed to E.M Jellinek, who presented the model in 1951. After that, the American Psychiatric Association and the American Medical Association followed, labeling alcoholism a disease.

Both alcohol and drugs can be treated in the disease model with 12 Step Programs. There are 12 Step Programs for other impulse control behaviors: gambling, compulsive sex, compulsive eating, etc.

Alcoholism was once considered a sin, before it was considered a disease. But today there are many different models of treatment - not only 12 Step Programs.

Hope this information is helpful,
Thank you for writing All Experts

Regards

Bev
http://www.untwist-your-thinking.com  
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    Commentyour quickness in answering is greatly appreciated as is too your answer.


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Beverley Glazer

Expertise

I can answer questions on all addictive behaviors: alcohol, drugs, food, compulsive sex, codependency, gambling, compulsive shoplifting etc.

Experience

I have over 20 years experience working in the addiction field. My experience extends to all levels of substance abuse. I've worked in rehabs and detox centers, prisons and half-way houses and have a busy private practice as well as an active website where I can be reached for recovery coaching and consultation. I am a cognitive behavioral therapist, but 12-step programs are an excellent support. When working in the addiction field, there is no cookie-cutter solution. In the recovery field, you witness miracles. That's why I love what I do.

Organizations
NAADAC The Association for Addiction Professionals, CACCF Canadian Addiction Counselors Federation, CCA Canadian Counseling Association, For more information please see: http://www.untwist-your-thinking.com

Education/Credentials
BA Psychology, MA Counseling Psychology, ICADC International Alcohol and Drug Counselor, ICAC International Clinical Addiction Counselor, CGC Certified Gambling Counselor.

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