Is alcoholism a disease, or is it just a drink problem?
Sometimes the terminology used when talking about alcohol problems can be quite unhelpful.
In fact, when using the terms ‘alcoholism’ or ‘alcoholic’ (which everyone does, including this site), the emphasis can be that the problem is with the alcohol itself.
But the problem actually stems from the state of mind that the alcohol gives you, not from the chemical as such. The importance that this state of mind takes on for you, the preferability of it despite the huge costs to other parts of your life, that is actually where the problem lies.
Similarly, people often refer to alcoholism as a disease. But what actually is a disease? Well, it is
“an abnormal condition that causes discomfort, dysfunction, distress, social problems, and/or death to the person afflicted, which is associated with specific symptoms and signs”.
The symptoms of the condition ‘alcoholism’ are generally agreed on as:
- tolerance - the need to consume more in order to achieve the same effect,
- withdrawal - the experience of unpleasant physical effects upon stopping drinking,
- craving - a preoccupation or prolonged urge to have a drink,
- loss of control - the inability to stop drinking at a sensible level once you have started.
You may have periods when you experience all four of these symptoms, and therefore you could be classified as an alcoholic. There may be other times when you’re not experiencing all of them, so you merely have ‘problems with alcohol’. But do you have a disease?
A disease is something over which you would have very little choice - “I don’t want this disease any more, I’m going to make some changes” would seem slightly ridiculous. So the way you view your alcohol problems, what terminology you use - will determine what you feel you can do about them.
If you view it as a set of problems, you will be motivated to solve those problems, but if you say to yourself “I’m an alcoholic, its a disease, it can’t be cured” then what are you likely to do about it? Not that much, I would suggest. Some people seem to have more control over their alcohol problems than others, so perhaps it is not a black or white condition, but one with varying shades of grey in between.
There are many different factors involved in an alcohol dependency, from genetic predispositions, or inherited behaviour from parents, perhaps learnt behaviour from society, to our beliefs about ourselves, our coping strategies, our self worth, our levels of anxiety and the stability or instability of our moods.
Different people will have different causes for their alcohol problems. The way to solve them is therefore to make yourself more aware of what factors are involved in your personal problem. Then you can go about making some changes to those underlying issues.
My husband is a alcoholic he starts drinking as soon as he wakes he lies constantly about how much he drinks he hides spirits and sleeps for a hour or so in the afternoon on waking he starts drinking again. I’m at my wits end the young people near us often laugh at him not with him he thinks they are all his friend I am ashamed to be seen with him
Well it has happened. My son got in a motorcycle accident September 13, Friday the 13th. He smashed his face and had to have his mouth reconstructed. The cop that responded to the scene of the accident followed the ambulance and stayed in the emergency room. There were several friends that arrived to check on him. My husband went and I didn’t as I was in a job interview that day. I can’t help but think if I could have done something about this, but I know I cannot punish myself continually and blame myself for his bad decisions. He finally got accepted in the Army National Guard and will swear in October 1. The cop that responded to the accident followed the ambulance on the way to the emergency room. Several friends came to check on his condition. My husband was there the entire time. Because the cop has had some run-ins with my son previously, he hung around for awhile. The attending physician said that his blood alcohol level was 4x the legal limit. My son said his last drink was quite a few hours ago. He is a binge drinker. The cop issued a dui charge and took a blood sample to take to the state police lab. If convicted, this will be his first according to Oregon law. He will face a lot of fines including attorney fees and hospital bills. He does have insurance. I truly hope that this is his rock bottom. Alcoholism hurts not only the alcoholic, but family members. It is hard to keep the faith up, but I need to keep it as it is the only thing I have at this point. I pray for strength and better financial decisions on my part. Despite all this, I want to bless my son. I love him dearly. I hope and pray he finds God. Rehab doesn’t work for him.
I am not an alcoholic but my son is. He just went through another stint of outpatient rehab. Today, my husband decided to check on him since it was only 6 pm and a Friday night at that. He found him passed out in his room and in his backpack was a partially consumed bottle of whiskey. We confronted him and he started lashing out at us, cussing, etc. We asked him for the keys to his car and bike which he hesitantly gave to us. He is 27 years old and has been abusing alcohol since age 16. As a mother, I am very hurt by his actions. He is completely combative, ungrateful, and makes his relapse an excuse to his recovery. I don’t know how much more I can put up with this. He is very hurtful in his words. His alcoholism just crushes my heart and keeps my gut in my throat. I want to throw in the towel.
Hi Maria
Don’t throw in the towel with your son. I’m a recovering alcoholic and it took 3 rehabs and 3/4 detox’s before the penny finally dropped. At my last detox I was given a drug called Campral which is supposed to lessen the cravings for alcohol. Thus far, I have been sober for 8 1/2 months now, it appears to be working, plus I attend a lot of AA meetings.
I think the problem you have is getting your son to admit he has a problem with alcohol. If he cannot get over that first, and primary, hurdle then I’m afraid any attempts at reasoning with him will fall on deaf ears. If however, he is willing to admit he has a problem, get him to see his gp to discuss the possibility of Campral being prescribed and suggest to him AA meetings. He’ll probably balk at the idea, as I did, but they are actually quite engrossing and even, at times, very funny.
Thank you Ian and congratulations on 8+ years sobriety. My son has been through many rehab stints….I believe 4 with one being in patient. He thinks AA is a joke and my husband (not an alcoholic) doesn’t understand how AA could possibly help. To date he still consumes alcohol. It is the cause of his failing relationships with friends, girlfriend and soon family. His reasoning is completely irrational and I can no longer stand the drama, the disrespect, the blame that he casts on us, the deflection, etc. Oh he knows he has a problem and wants to fix it..so he says. Yet he doesn’t commit to sobriety, hangs out with the drinking crowd and wonders why noone respects him. He misses work all the time. I don’t even recognize who this person is living in my house; an overgrown child who seems like a stranger to me. Looking back at his childhood, I cannot think of what may have triggered this addiction. My strength and will to understand his problem has drowned into the deep ocean. I am so frustrated and disappointed at the same time. Tonight, he is not with us but instead with a friend. He says he is not drinking….I want to believe it. But I guess if he is safe, then it is all I can ask for.