Classification of Alcoholism as a Disease

The revised definition of alcoholism is:

a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic. (Morse & Flavin, 1994, p. 31-32).

The term primary means that alcoholism is not a symptom of another underlying disease. Alcoholism is a disease in and of itself. The addiction is not caused by any other hidden disease. As a disease, alcoholism is involuntary. In other words, a person does not try to become an alcoholic. The alcoholic's behavior may contribute to the disease, but the person does not choose to become dependent on alcoho

. . .
dy of the alcoholic, by his or her continued drinking, are the psychological problems experienced. The definition of alcoholism states that the alcoholic has "impaired control" over alcohol. Alcoholics are unable to regulate the occasions when they drink, where they drink, the length of time spent drinking, the amount of alcohol consumed in a drinking episode, and the behaviors accompanying the drinking of alcoholic beverages (Morse & Flavin, 1994, p. 32). The alcoholic has impaired control; this does not imply that the alcoholic is without any ability to control his or her drinking only that it is more difficult for the alcoholic individual to do so compared to the non-alcoholic person. The definition of alcoholism also states that the alcoholic continues to drink even in the face of adverse consequences. Adverse consequences include the health problems which are the result of the consumption of large quantities of alcohol ingested over a period of time, psychological consequences, mood swings and changes in cognition and behavior, problems in interpersonal functioning (child and spousal abuse, marital problems, co-worker difficulties, et cetera), difficulties at school or work, legal, financial and spiritual problems (Morse
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1833
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

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