Alcoholism: Choice or Disease

Is Alcoholism a Choice?

 Alcoholism defined by Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary is a “a complex chronic psychological and nutritional disorder associated with excessive and compulsive use of alcohol”. This definition doesn’t give us any solid conclusions on whether alcoholism is a choice or a disease, but what a massive debate.

Research found from a Gallop poll revealed that 90% of the population surveyed believed that alcoholism is a disease. Although from my own personal research, I would say that more than 10% believe that alcoholism is a choice.  Those that advocate for the “choice model” also believe that by applying the “disease mode” strips alcoholics of their choice and responsibility which causes a threat to the health of the alcoholic.

It has also been argued that alcoholism starts with choice. The choice to drink. After which, if the individual has the underlying disease, then they will continue their use of alcohol which will escalate to alcohol abuse, at which time the problem drinker gets diagnosed.  Keeping in mind that diagnosis is usually only a guess. What physical signs and symptoms of alcohol dependence actually get measured?  You have to wonder whether a disease is measurable by excessive use of alcohol which natural consequences can cause dangerous behaviors and ailing health due to alcohol consumption.

Other diseases are an entity of their own. If alcoholism is a disease, then how do we know that the disease is present? One needs to consume copious amounts of alcohol (by choice) before a diagnosis can be made. It’s fair to say that one must choose to create the condition before it can be diagnosed.

There is also much of controversy over the facts that surround the disease concept. It has been said that those involved in conducting the studies that supported alcoholism as a disease had their own personal agenda.  Interestingly enough, they also admitted to these studies being fraudulent. Surveys that supported evidence against the “disease model” where thrown out along with all the surveys that were completed by women.

Today the treatment industry is a multi-billion dollar industry with medical insurance paying the bulk of the money. Medical insurance would only pay for the treatment programs if alcoholism was a medical problem. All the same, medical professionals and American culture love to embrace the disease concept and quickly apply it to every possible deviant behavior from alcohol dependence to compulsive eating. The benefits are far greater with alcoholism as a disease.

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