Expert: Rebos - 3/7/2007

Question
I wrote: I have trouble swallowing that alcoholism is a disease.  Alcohol is nothing but a pacifier.  If alcohol was made difficult to get or illegal - alcoholics would sober up quickly and stay sober.  Just because someone cant be a responsible person and control themselves - it doesnt mean that that person has a disease.  Ive been in countries where alcohol is controlled or illegal and only 10% of the population are drunks.  My sister is a drunk and uses the 'disease' word as an excuse to keep drinking.  She says 'I cant stop because I have a disease'.  The political correct word 'disease' when referred to alcoholism 'enables' the alcoholic to keep drinking.

You wrote:  I'm sorry, but I don't understand the question..

My question is - why do you keep calling it a disease?  Dont take my question the wrong way.  Help me understand. In this country alcohol is a chemical that is mostly abused.  If drugs were made legal - it would be abused as well.  Its just the way human beings are.  Everyone needs boundries and alcohol is no exception.  If the alcohoic could not get the alcohol or the alcohol was difficult to get the alcoholic would get sober and stay sober.


Answer
Good afternoon Ann:

Thank you for your question, and I am sorry that I failed to see the question in your earlier e-mail.

First; I call alcoholism a disease because the American Medical Association says that it is a disease. If you chose to question the validity of their judgment so be it. I chose to agree with them because they are the experts when it comes to what is and what is not a disease. Even Medical Insurance Companies treat legal alcoholism, and other “illegal” addictions, as a coverable cost for reimbursement under some of their policies medical coverage.

Secondly; your rationale is confusing to me in that you say that alcohol is abused by people because it is legal to buy it and legal to drink it. Your comment doesn’t make sense in so far that illicit and illegal drugs, don't seem to stop all of the drug addiction that we have in the world today.

Concerning your sister’s alcoholism… she uses the disease aspect of her alcoholism as an excuse to protect her right to continue drinking. It is not a reason, but an excuse for her to embrace her disease of alcoholism because she is an addict. Since you have a sister who is an alcoholic it may be good for you to attend some Al-Anon meetings. It would be a good place for you learn to hate the disease and not the patient. I wonder if your sister would feel the same way if she had any other terminal disease that was not addictive.

If I can be any help to you concerning your sister’s disease please send me a follow up question. Thank you Rebos.