Question by denveryay: How is it possible to absolutely categorize Alcoholim as a disease and not an illness?
“Disease” is a very loosely defined term in many respects. There are multiple disorders, infenctions, and symptoms that can be typical of a definable disease. Also, a disease must have specific and constant cause(s), which in the case of Alcoholism is the CHOICE to drink ethyl-alcohol. The cause of the “disease” is the recurring and disregarding CHOICE to drink. A choice, however pathological or illogical, doesn’t seem to be appropriate as a cause or a condition of any disease. Despite the negative psychological, physiological, and other results of long-term alcohol abuse, it seems that it shouldn’t be classified as anything more than a treatable mental disorder.

“Illness, although often used to mean disease, can also refer to a person’s perception of their health, regardless of whether they in fact have a disease. A person without any disease may feel unhealthy and believe he has an illness. Another person may feel healthy and believe he does not have an illness even though he may have a disease” – Wikipedia on ‘Disease’

It is true that if some Alcoholics didn’t have a disease to blame for their disorder, they would not be able to stop drinking. It is also true that because of Alcholism-as-a-disease, many people who ABUSE alcohol are led into misperceptions about their drinking habits. In fact, it is only alcohol DEPENDENCE that could possibly even begin to be categorized as a disease.

An individual who is alcohol-dependent exhibits behavior indicitive of addiction. Drink-seeking, withdrawal and tolerance, and psychological malfunction among others are the results and symptoms of addiction. My father and friends have struggled with alchohol and drug addictions and I have seen the both successful and unsuccessful treatments implemented in their lives.

It seems that Alcoholism and drug addictions are psychological disorders that in a vast majority of instances could be cured by a conscious choice (however difficult) to STOP using the cause of the addiction. It has been proven in many instances that an addict can stop using the object of their addiction without any complications, as long as they are commited to quitting.

It seems that diseases should only be those such as Cancer, Diabetes, Hepatitis and the like. People who have these diseases cannot make a choice to simply stop a behavior to ease their pains. Whereas, although undoubtedly difficult, an addict can ease his or her addiction by making a powerful choice to stop using.

By allowing alcoholism to be categorized as a disease, it seems that negative stigma is removed from addicts’ behaviors and people who drink are given an excuse to justify their behavior. Instead of feeling like they’ve let themselves and their families down, they are able to blam their behavior on a cause outside of their control, which is simply not true.

“Neither the U.S. Veterans Administration nor the Social Security Administration makes payments to individuals, whose disabilities stem from substance abuse, including alcoholism.” – From Shoutwire

I am NOT pro- or anti- any of this I am looking for factual objective evidence and ideas that could lead to helping me understand why Alchoholism is given reprieve by its disease classification.

Best answer:

Answer by kentuckyredhead5353
Well about half way through I had a problem and I developed this question. What is the difference with what you were saying in comparison to a cigarette smoker for some it’s the habit and the motion and some get physically sick for the lack of nicotine is it not similar. emotional vs physical and different for different personality types? 🙂 Guess I could read on have a good one:-)
OK I’m finally done now i get it, it’s all in there head so all they have to do is get it out of their head and it will all go away. They just will it away. Take 2 aspirins have a sucker and call me in the morning:-)
oh excuse me revision: update-read the last part. it was taken out as a disease because social security was being drained by leagal alcoholics that the government makes good taxes off of. The only help and recourse for a recovering alcoholic, drug user, vet, is a mental health clinic because why did they drink in the first place. Now uncle sam pays for their drugs and kills them off with a lousy health plan. looks who is on all the class action suits that will never collect anything. Trust me I have done my homework on this subject. I know many vets and low income disabled people. Nothing has changed but the name of the disease.

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Long Term Alcohol Rehab offers treatment programs that allow an alcoholic woman to address not only the addiction but also the underlying causes of the addiction. These rehab facilities offer a safe haven for women who have come to the end of their rope with addiction. Long term alcohol rehab programs offer many services to the recovering alcoholic woman such as: medical care, counseling, psychological support and educational training. In fact many of the staff members and long term alcohol rehabs are actually recovering addicts who serve as role models. Many long term treatment programs are inpatient treatment facilities that offer food, shelter and clothing while the individual is going through treatment.
Alcoholism is defined as drinking alcoholic beverages to a level that interferes with physical health, mental health, social, family, and job responsibilities. Men and women both suffer from addiction and many treatment centers offer a co-gender approach to the treatment of addiction. It is important to note that while the symptoms may be the same, the way that the addiction takes hold is more often than not very different. Women who abuse alcohol have higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal tendencies, many of them have been exposed to trauma as a child and some sort of domestic violence. Many times in treatment a woman will admit to coming from a family who abused alcohol. It is also not uncommon for a woman who grew up in an abusive household to gravitate to that type of life as an adult.
When searching for a program that addresses women and alcohol the individual should seek a treatment center must understand that is fully staffed by women. This increases the chance of success when women are able to recover in an all female treatment center. In a gender-specific treatment facility, women can open up more about the past, their relationships and feelings in a safe nurturing environment without worrying about what men are thinking.
When searching for a long term alcohol rehab facility it’s important to choose the right geographical area for treatment. Many times an alcoholic will find it very easy to relapse when they are going to a rehab program in the same area in which they live. Unfortunately with alcohol and any other drug the reasons for addiction are caused by the living and work environment, therefore it is more conducive to the recovery process to find a treatment program out of area. For instance many addicts find drug rehab in California to be a great place to start over. With its golden sunshine and close distance to the Pacific Ocean it is a very peaceful and serene place to start a new and sober journey. Using a facility out of state also allows for stronger bonds to be formed between the patient and staff members which helps aid in the recovery process.

Safe Harbor Treatment Center located in Costa Mesa, California is a gender-specific treatment center specializing in long term drug rehab and alcohol rehab. Safe Harbor addresses the specific needs of women and alcohol, is a women only staffed facility that offers many services to aid in recovery. Do you or someone you know need help with addiction? Please visit our website safeharborhouse.com or call us today for more information 877-660-7623.

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Once it is decided to quit the addiction, one needs professional support and guidance. The rehabs offer their services based on two types one of which is the outpatient program and the other one is residential program. The outpatient deals with those clients who cannot leave their busy schedules and find out time to stay over in the rehab for the duration of the recovery treatment. This kind of treatment has good effect but it is a bit slow and the life, in which one starts the addiction, is faced daily. There is no discontinuation from that life. This is useful in disconnecting from the existing life, take a small pause, get de-addicted, and embrace the life with new approach. But by opting for outpatient treatment, this is not possible. The disconnection from the factors and elements which might have led the clients to addiction will be consistently present, and there are more chances of not being able to quit the addiction. If the client quits it, the percentage is more to get back to the old addiction or relapse of the addiction. Due to this factor the medical experts suggest a residential rehab for fighting the addiction out of the system.

A residential rehab is a facility equipped with state of art instruments, thorough professional experts and great ambience. All these factors cumulatively help in re-inventing oneself as well as living life once again with complete new outlook. outpatient drug rehab, drug rehabs are found under one roof. They are very effective in quitting the life threatening addiction. Most of these rehabs are laced in the lap of nature. It is believed that Mother Nature has a cure for each and every problem or disease. The healing retreats have good natural environment, which help in carrying out activities which are physically challenging as well as have spiritual values like yoga or meditation etc.

Orange County rehab is one of the most successful rehabs. There are several such rehabs which help their clients quit the addiction if a very effective and non-relapsing way. The rehabs have come a long way in fighting the addiction, they believe in a holistic approach. They treat the mental, physical and social factors affecting the physical and mental health of their client. They also include their families for a long term effect of the treatment. An all rounded approach in healing the client is achieved through these aspects.