Alcoholism is a Disease and It’s Not Alcohol Abuse
Alcoholism. I remember having a very difficult time wrapping my head around the idea that alcoholism was a disease. “What kind of disease could it possibly be given the alcoholic was “choosing” to drink?,” I would ask.
This belief of mine caused me to go along with the hundreds of deals I made with one or the other of my loved ones about how it was going to be this time (only 2 drinks/day or only 4 drinks on Fridays and Saturdays or no drinking for a month — with one it was even no drinking for two years — or it was up to me to decide when, where and how much [that was a really rotten deal, let me tell you] and on it went for decades). Part of the problem was that I thought drinking was either normal or alcoholic and the other part was my not having any idea of what constituted low-risk or moderate or normal drinking limits, let alone what it was that made a person an alcoholic vs. someone who just drank too much. If you are as confused as I was about all of this, please watch my 10 minute video for answers.
Alcoholism is a disease, and it’s not alcohol abuse.
Lisa Frederiksen
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Thanks for this well written article. I have been working with teens and parents on substance abuse prevention education for 17 years. While there is some progress with the public’s understanding that’s it’s the brain, not the substance that makes you addicted, there is more work to be done. My educational non-profit has trained facilitators ready to educate students, parents and teachers about addiction and what can be done to prevent it.
Thank you for your comment, Chris, and for sharing your work and resource information — very important, indeed — thank you!!
http://www.preventionplus.info offers assemblies, workshops and classes on preventing tobacco, alcohol and all other drug use and abuse. Chris Kelly
What a distinct pleasure to read something from an addiction professional who is consistently on the cutting edge of what the latest research is revealing. Thank you, Lisa. As a recovering person myself, I remember thinking back on some of my own alcoholic behavior and wondering how I could have ever “chosen” to do such unhealthy things. Learning it’s not my fault that I am an alcoholic, but my responsibility to seek and maintain treatment was the key and breakthrough for me. Here’s to offering this possibility of breakthrough for more suffering people in our families and communities. Thanks again for your very helpful part in this endeavor.
Why thank you, Herby!! Your comment is very much appreciated and congratulations on your own recovery – that’s marvelous!