Why do alcohols call their addiction a disease?

[soaps]

The way I see it, it's a way of life for them, They made the choice.

[trt]

tamborine,

I would have thought 1 Lg bottle of spirits a day would be to much?

[Answerprancer]

No - just the one, in the middle -staring right at YOOOOOO !
Neighhhhhhhhh !!!!!

[tamborine]

sleep well Mamy...I was waiting for your lullaby

[tamborine]

Maybe trt but the person I have in mind had more than 2 bots of whisky pd

[soaps]

Dont make excuses, all addictions are self inflicted. addicts will always come up with excuses as to why they are addicted, they're always full of self-pity it's their choice to drink or take drugs or whatever.

[tamborine]

like my unquenchanble thirst for tea - sad eh :(

[Mel_G]

Periodically controversey flares over whether alcohol dependence is a disease. Disesase may be defined broadly, but in the strict medical sense it refers to a clearly identified physical process that is pathological. A critical fature of the definition is that once a disease is contracted, the afflicated individual has no control, or is not responsible, for the disease running its course. Typically when alcohol dependence is called a disease, the tradionally medical model of disesase is the referent.

[Answerprancer]

Soap, my opinionated friend - who is making excuses ? They're reasons, not excuses

[Answerprancer]

..and furthermore is that really ALL you can come up with after all those responses ?
How about addressing some of them individually - as you are the host of this thread.

[Answerprancer]

Mel - at least have the humility to state when you are copying and pasting someone else's work otherwise it looks as if you are making out that these are your own words.

[rowanwitch]

Was clubbed over the head with a big oldfashioned blood pressure machine by an alcoholic once...she was admitted with fits and hallucinations her very proper family failed to mention the box of wine and bottle of vodka she'd beeing every day for years as they were embarrassed. she'd had flu and been unable to get to the supermarket to buy her 'supplies' she had no control at all... and I wasn;t even looking after her she just saw me as some sort of vague threat

[ummmm]

Due to my upbringing I know quite a few alcoholics, functioning on different levels. What one person can drink on a social level is enough to make another person dependent.

Soaps...you're very ignorant to it. It cannot be compared to drug use. It's socially acceptable to have a drink. Almost every shop sells it...no one bats an eye when people go to the pub. No one knows the amount they need to drink before they become addicted. It's an individual thing....If they knew beforehand do you really think they would carry on drinking?

[jake-the-peg]

Is depression a life choice too?

I mean that's self inflicted isn't it?

Whay can't all these people just snap out of it and get a grip on themselves?

[anneasquith]

some very interesting points of view,................alcoholic, alcohol dependant, alcohol misuse, binge drinking. chemical dependancy. self inflicted.yes............. but the outcome is it becomes a disease when human organs especially the liver is damaged,

[ummmm]

Pinki - Alcohol dependents I know tend to have emotional issues they are blotting out. It's a form of self medicating. When their issues are resolved they can stop with no problem and no withdrawal symptoms.

My accountant is like that...very unhappy, living with a wife that doesn't love him...too much to lose and too old to leave. So he drinks to numb everything.

A 'real' alcoholic is physically addicted and the withdrawal symptoms are horrible.