Nanci Kuykendall

>......I don't think alcoholism is a disease,
>technically. IF it's genetic, it's no more a disease
>than homosexuality. So if alcoholism without alcohol
>(abstinence) "controls the disease," maybe by disease
>they mean once the alcohol is introduced, the body
>responds as it would in a diseased state. The
>disease model is WAY better than the plain-old-sin
>model. But if it's an underlying condition... well
>I guess diabetes is that kind of disease. You can
>inherit it.

>I think of "disease" more as something that's
>communicable or can be
>cured. Otherwise it's a condition or state of being.
>Sandra

Interesting supposition. I'm not sure if I agree, but
I am trying to compare other genetically influenced
conditions with alcoholism in my head to see how they
measure up and what the difference is between them and
a communicable disease.

A disease is defined as a "particular malady", and a
"condition of a living animal or plant body which
impairs normal functioning" and "an impairment of the
normal state of an organism that interrupts or
modifies its vital functions." I cannot find any
mention of communicability being a factor in what is
defined as a disease. There are many genetically
influenced impairments which are called diseases, and
certainly qualify as diseases based on the definitions
I have been able to find.

There has long been a running debate however, about
whether alcoholism qualifies as a disease, and this
may be due in part, I think, to the fact that we
cannot verify that it's genetically influenced,
although we have good evidence to suggest that it is.
There is also the argument that alcohol impairs one's
functioning all on it's own, and the dysfunctionality
in the behavior of alcoholics is explained away as
solely cased by the physical effests of the alcohol,
which is a gross oversimplification.

I think it qualifies as a disease, but the word
disorder could just as easily be applied. Like anyone
who's family is predisposed to a genetic disorder,
those with alcoholism (or addiction for that matter)
in the family are at risk for developing it
themselves, in my opinion. I don't think that means
it's an unavoidable boogeyman. It's just something
that needs to be taken into account so that preventive
measures can be taken, like not hanging with a social
group where drinking is "required" or not getting
yourself into a job or lifestyle where you are
constantly barraged by drinking or alcohol, not making
alcohol too convenient for yourself, or being
conscious of how/when and why you drink and adjusting
that before a problem develops if there is a negative
pattern there.

It's something I definately want to address with my
kids, given the risk factors in their genetics, even
though they have never lived with any alcoholics.

Nanci K.