I agree that there is not a disease called alcoholism, in line with research over the past 40 years or so. The preferred medical terminolgy is 'alcohol dependence syndrome'. Addiction to alcohol, one of the hardest drugs known, is, however, a real phenomenon. It involves an immediate physiological aspect, and in varying degrees underlying psychological, moral and spiritual factors. By its nature, the drug which affects every cell in the body leads to major physical disease and psychological problems. The fact that very many people, with or without support, not only overcome abusive drinking but return to moderate drinking attests to the fact that a major claim of the 'alcoholism as disease' ...

I agree that there is not a disease called alcoholism, in line with research over the past 40 years or so. The preferred medical terminolgy is 'alcohol dependence syndrome'. Addiction to alcohol, one of the hardest drugs known, is, however, a real phenomenon. It involves an immediate physiological aspect, and in varying degrees underlying psychological, moral and spiritual factors. By its nature, the drug which affects every cell in the body leads to major physical disease and psychological problems. The fact that very many people, with or without support, not only overcome abusive drinking but return to moderate drinking attests to the fact that a major claim of the 'alcoholism as disease' is unsubstantiated. It is also true that some people are more vulnerable than others, that support needs to address a whole range of non-medical factors. Luck plays a part. In summary, medical intervention is often required at an emergency level, many diseases are attributable to alcohol misuse, psychological intervention is needed for some not only to help repair damage but to address underlying mental distress which may have led to self-medication by alcohol, but as in the nature of all addictions the problem is manifold in its dimensions. As I work with people near the terminal stages of alcohol poisoning, I do tend to agree that a first step is to diasavow them of the comfort of believing they have no choice.