The Disease Concept of Alcohol Dependency

“Whatever causes a problem is a problem.” —Father Joseph Martin

Alcohol dependency is accepted as a disease by the American and British Medical Associations. People have realized for years that, even if an alcoholic abstains from drinking for a period of time, if they return to drinking they will soon revert to loss of control. The saying “once an alcoholic always an alcoholic” still holds true today.

Dr. Robert Ohlms defines alcoholism as “a chronic, progressive, incurable disease characterized by a loss of control over alcohol and other sedatives.” Some explanation of these terms will help you understand his definition.

Chronic - Lasts a long time.

Progressive - The disease advances or worsens over time.

Incurable - The disease persists even in those that have had continuous sobriety for 5, 10 or even 20 years. If they resume drinking, within a short period of time, the same symptoms occur that were present prior to their abstinence. The alcoholic can not return to controlled drinking.

Loss of control - This doesn’t mean that ever time alcoholics drink they get drunk. It means that, once they put alcohol in their system, they cannot predict their behavior.

 

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