Alchoholish - Illness or Addiction

[milly143]

Just watching Jezza Kyle where a guy is trying to explain his alocoholism. He says it's an illness, not an addiction.

Is he right or is he making excuses of himself?

[milly143]

When will I learn to read through before I hit submit! Alcoholism - not ish.

[ummmm]

It's an addiction...which I suppose then becomes an illness.

[Prudie]

I'm watching that too milly but I don't really see how you can distinguish between them in that both probably need intervention to get over. What I mean is one isn't more of an excuse or defence than the other.

[jno]

it'sh an illnesh...

It depends... it's a condition which you can't do anything about. None the less, you can choose not to bring on the symptoms by not drinking.

[NOX]

It's somewhat both ( ex drug abuser alcoholic) but you do CHOOSE to drink- I can now drink or not drink and it deosn't bother me ( some people will say with an alcohol problem you can't do that- not true very do-able in the right circumstances) but I have dealt with WHY I drank and took drugs in the first place- if you don't do that then you will be it's slave forever.

[Dris]

I use alcohol excessively as a crutch in trying times -when they have passed I can drop it just like that for months and dont crave it.
It could have become addiction for me and many others but then if it takes a hold it becomes an illness -its a fine line which luckily I have managed to tread and know I can and will as the crutches i used it for can only be worsened by one thing and pray that wont happen any time soon...

[Sqad]

<<<<it's an illness, not an addiction.<<<

By "illness" I presume he means a disease and without going into the classification of diseases it can either be a) Hereditary or b) Acquired

Hereditary....there is no known gene that is specific for the development of alcoholism,although there are specific genes which determine SOME mental illnesses including depression which predisposes to alcoholism.

Acquired.....studies have shown that with one or more alcoholic parents the chance of an offspring being alcoholic is between 30%- 45% depending on what studies your respect.

My opinion....it is an acquired disorder leading to an addictive condition.

[Dris]

^^ sorry Helen :(

[fruitsalad]

Dris like you in trying times I always turned to ciggarettes rather than drink if someone offered me the choice between a ciggie or a drink it would always be a ciggie, I gave up smoking in june but when im having a bad day I am really tempted to light up and would still like a smoke even now, supppose once a addict always an addict.