Is Alcoholism a disease?

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

but to the medical profession anyone that drinks more than a unit a day is an alcoholic on the whole. every time i go to the doc for what ever reason they always ask my consumption of booze a day. and its way over the prescribed limit and to all intense a purpose according to them i'm an Alcoholic. I'm not pissed all day every day, i just enjoy wine with my meal each day. the funny thing is my GP drinks as much as me if not more as he's a member of my club and play with him on occasion he likes a few

I really don't believe that to be the case. An alcoholic is someone who - because of the illness and the addiction - is powerless over alcohol - drinks one - must drink another.

 

[patricks148]

I really don't believe that to be the case. An alcoholic is someone who - because of the illness and the addiction - is powerless over alcohol - drinks one - must drink another.

Tell that to my GP then:rofl:

 

[Val]

I really don't believe that to be the case. An alcoholic is someone who - because of the illness and the addiction - is powerless over alcohol - drinks one - must drink another.

Not strictly true, an alcoholic is someone who needs drink every day, that is not necessarily one drink and then another.

 

[Val]

Tell that to my GP then:rofl:

I think your GP is at it. The guidelines are 14 unit’s a week not 1 unit a day

 

[bigslice]

As someone who has had issues with alcohol, including financially, domestically and especially health wise, and watched a parent battle his own demons, it's definitely an illness. Whether you define that as a mental illness as an addiction in the same manner as drugs or tobacco, or a clinical illness as a result of effects drink has on the body I'll leave to the masses to discuss. Touch wood I'll never go back to where I was and while I do enjoy a good blow out still, the boundaries are clearly defined in my mind and I listen to what my body tells me. Having come very close to an early end through my alcohol abuse I'll never put myself or my wife through that again and it's been a long hard road to get where I am now.

Well said. I know a few people who go to AA and GA and have personal knowledge of addictions . The main bit is being able to know where u dont want to be. Also watched a very clever boy drink himself to death in space of 4 years. Sad very sad

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Not strictly true, an alcoholic is someone who needs drink every day, that is not necessarily one drink and then another.

I suggest that there are not that many alcoholics who can have a single drink and be happy with that...that circumstances might mean that the next drink might be a while coming doesn't take from the compulsion to have it, and the obsession that sits until it comes along.

 

[patricks148]

I think your GP is at it. The guidelines are 14 unit’s a week not 1 unit a day

did i say one unit a day, sorry Val a meant 14, not every day but some more some less. To GP that puts you into the bracket of having a drink problem. but i can take it or leave it TBH, i don't tend to drink during the day or much after a certain time if I've to drive in the morning. some days i don't drink at all depending on our meal.

 

[bobmac]

A doctor once told me an alcoholic is someone who needs a level of alcohol in their bloodstream at all times for their body functions to operate normally.

 

[MegaSteve]

A doctor once told me an alcoholic is someone who needs a level of alcohol in their bloodstream at all times for their body functions to operate normally.

Greavsie's description being a bit more pertinent...

"When you come around at 3am, by your bin, wringing the neck of your empties to satiate your thirst you're in trouble"...

 

[IanM]

The more I look at this thread the more I think that social pressures add to it.

When I was 20, getting drunk was a by-product of a night out, now it seems to be the objective

 

[Foxholer]

but to the medical profession anyone that drinks more than a unit a day is an alcoholic on the whole every time i go to the doc for what ever reason they always ask my consumption of booze a day. and its way over the prescribed limit and to all intense a purpose according to them i'm an Alcoholic. I'm not pissed all day every day, i just enjoy wine with my meal each day. the funny thing is my GP drinks as much as me if not more as he's a member of my club and play with him on occasion he likes a few

I really don't believe that to be the case. An alcoholic is someone who - because of the illness and the addiction - is powerless over alcohol - drinks one - must drink another.

I agree with SILH! Part of the 'condition' is the inability to stop, once started!

I'm almost certain that continental (particularly French and Italian) medics would have a different metric/assessment!

My tennis doubles - a Doctor - had his own definition of 'an alcoholic' as 'someone who drinks more than his Doctor'!

And, to answer the actual question in the OP...Opinion is divided! Some believe it's a '(chronic) disease' - of the brain - while others 'simply' consider it a 'disorder'. It really depends how you define 'disease'!