Tyler Baze - put the whiskey down, son

[Honu]

My brother died in 2005 from drinking, he couldnt stop, not mentally or physically. My birth father is also an alcoholic as well as another brother who if it wasnt that he was incarcirated for 12 years would most likely be dead as well. For some reason my oldest brother and I are not like the other two in that we can drink but its not like it is or was with the other two.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by Honu

My brother died in 2005 from drinking, he couldnt stop, not mentally or physically. My birth father is also an alcoholic as well as another brother who if it wasnt that he was incarcirated for 12 years would most likely be dead as well. For some reason my oldest brother and I are not like the other two in that we can drink but its not like it is or was with the other two.

My oldest brother and I are a lot alike. Before I got sober, we could go toe to toe, drink for drink. My brother that just passed away, the most alcohol he ever had in one setting was 7 beers and my sister is the same way as him, she can take it or leave it. Neither of my parents drink.

[pba1817]

Alcoholism is not a disease, it is a choice.

[Honu]

Originally Posted by pba1817

Alcoholism is not a disease, it is a choice.

Science may disagree with you.

[GenuineRisk]

Not recognizing alcoholism as a disease is like assuming that the mentally ill just need to "snap out of it."

Defined:

In a 1992 JAMA article, the Joint Committee of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) and the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) published this definition for alcoholism:
“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, mostly denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic.”

There's a reason alcoholics who have stopped drinking are called "recovering." it's because they'll never be "cured." They won't ever be able to drink as someone who is not alcoholic can drink. It's a disease.

My father is drinking himself to death. It's an awful thing to watch. And I spent years angry about it. But, for whatever reason, I was spared the addictive need for alcohol my dad has. Which means I can't ever understand what's going on in his head. I can't judge, because I will never truly understand.

I need a drink.

[Calzone Lord]

The mentally ill can't go for years and years of sanity before falling off the wagon.

I think almost all people have weaknesses and vices.

I battle with poor sleep habits. I battle hard with temptation to eat junk foods constantly and I hate 99% of foods that are good for me. Those two things will kill you as fast as drinking if you don't fight your urges. I've been diagnosed with Autism by doctors.

I probably could have milked the Autism angle into getting feel good pills, or getting some type of cash benefits, or as a reason to leach off of my parents and sit around all day doing nothing with an excuse in my pocket. The Autisim is really just an extreme discomfort around people and a struggle to understand social cues and small talk. It's something you can accept you're not good at and try to improve.

If a person can accept that they have a weakness for booze -- they should still be able to work to avoid drinking themselves to their grave.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

I need a drink.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Not recognizing alcoholism as a disease is like assuming that the mentally ill just need to "snap out of it."

Defined:

In a 1992 JAMA article, the Joint Committee of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) and the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) published this definition for alcoholism:
“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, mostly denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic.”

There's a reason alcoholics who have stopped drinking are called "recovering." it's because they'll never be "cured." They won't ever be able to drink as someone who is not alcoholic can drink. It's a disease.

My father is drinking himself to death. It's an awful thing to watch. And I spent years angry about it. But, for whatever reason, I was spared the addictive need for alcohol my dad has. Which means I can't ever understand what's going on in his head. I can't judge, because I will never truly understand.

'Many physicians reject the disease theory of alcoholism. One study found that only 20 percent of physicians believe that substance addiction is a disease. In addition, 55 percent believe that there is "no effective treatment" for it.(T. McLellan. R-Considering Addiction Treatment: How Can Treatment Be More Accountable And Effective? A Continuing Medical Education (CME)Course. Cranston, Rhode Island, Association for Medical Education and Research on Substance Abuse, 2006.)

Another study found that only 25 percent of physicians believed that alcoholism is a disease. The majority believed alcoholism to be a social or psychological problem instead of a disease. (S.I. Mignon. Physicians' Perceptions of Alcoholics: The Disease Concept Reconsidered. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 1996, v. 14, no. 4, pp. 33–45)

A survey of physicians at an annual conference of the International Doctors in Alcoholics Anonymous reported that 80 percent believe that alcoholism is merely bad behavior instead of a disease. (Barrier to Treatment. Alcoholmd - Information About Alcohol and Medicine)

Dr. Thomas R. Hobbs says that "Based on my experiences working in the addiction field for the past 10 years, I believe many, if not most, health care professionals still view alcohol addiction as a willpower or conduct problem and are resistant to look at it as a disease." (T.R. Hobbs. Managing Alcoholism as a Disease. Physician's News Digest, 1998.)

Alcoholics Anonymous says that "Some professionals will tell you that alcoholism is a disease while others contend that it is a choice" and "some doctors will tell you that it is in fact a disease." (Alcoholics Anonymous. What Is Alcoholism? http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.com/...alcoholism.htm)[42]'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disease..._of_alcoholism


not trying to change minds here at all. just want to show that it's not a clearcut decision amongst physicians. which probably explains why some of us aren't sure it's so clear cut either.

[Port Conway Lane]

I was primarily a beer drinker for over 20 years. I am ashamed to admit it but I dodged countless DUI's and I was lucky I never injured or killed anyone.

I will never know for sure but my life (and possibly others) may have been spared 13 years ago when I ran into the back of a car at a stop light after consuming over 24 beers over an 8 hour span.

I never touched a drink again.....until two years ago. So far so good. It is not a battle for me. I need to stay away from a motor vehicle when i consume alchohol.

I put the bottle down instantly after a wake up call. Others aren't as fortunate. I could be the same person I was 13 years ago from today forward.

Everyone's experience is different. I'm responsible for my actions. Tyler Baze is responsible for his actions. Whether alchoholism is a disease or not doesn't spare Tyler his responsibility.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Danzig

'Many physicians reject the disease theory of alcoholism. One study found that only 20 percent of physicians believe that substance addiction is a disease. In addition, 55 percent believe that there is "no effective treatment" for it.(T. McLellan. R-Considering Addiction Treatment: How Can Treatment Be More Accountable And Effective? A Continuing Medical Education (CME)Course. Cranston, Rhode Island, Association for Medical Education and Research on Substance Abuse, 2006.)

Another study found that only 25 percent of physicians believed that alcoholism is a disease. The majority believed alcoholism to be a social or psychological problem instead of a disease. (S.I. Mignon. Physicians' Perceptions of Alcoholics: The Disease Concept Reconsidered. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 1996, v. 14, no. 4, pp. 33–4

A survey of physicians at an annual conference of the International Doctors in Alcoholics Anonymous reported that 80 percent believe that alcoholism is merely bad behavior instead of a disease. (Barrier to Treatment. Alcoholmd - Information About Alcohol and Medicine)

Dr. Thomas R. Hobbs says that "Based on my experiences working in the addiction field for the past 10 years, I believe many, if not most, health care professionals still view alcohol addiction as a willpower or conduct problem and are resistant to look at it as a disease." (T.R. Hobbs. Managing Alcoholism as a Disease. Physician's News Digest, 1998.)

Alcoholics Anonymous says that "Some professionals will tell you that alcoholism is a disease while others contend that it is a choice" and "some doctors will tell you that it is in fact a disease." (Alcoholics Anonymous. What Is Alcoholism? http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.com/...alcoholism.htm)[42]'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disease..._of_alcoholism


not trying to change minds here at all. just want to show that it's not a clearcut decision amongst physicians. which probably explains why some of us aren't sure it's so clear cut either.

The medical profession was still considering homosexuality a mental illness in your lifetime, too.

I think what boggles the minds of non-alcoholics is that it seems so simple- just stop drinking, right? But in the mind of an alcoholic it just doesn't work that way.

This is pure woo speculation on my part, but I do think there's a difference in brain wiring for people prone to addiction, and sometimes I wonder if it's more likely in people with a higher tolerance for adrenaline/stress. My dad is amazing in a crisis. Amazing. Calm, clear-headed, insightful. It's everyday life he can't handle.

And when it comes to jockeys, these are men and women who are happy to get on a fragile animal traveling at 30 miles an hour, knowing they are going to break bones several times in their career. You have to be an adrenaline junkie to want to do that.

Originally Posted by pba1817

Alcoholism is not a disease, it is a choice.

Simply not true.

[pba1817]

For those of you who do believe alcoholism is a disease and not a choice, where do you draw the line?

Is gambling a disease? Is smoking a disease? Is drug abuse a disease? Is being obese a disease? Is masturbation a disease? Is being religious a disease? Is picking boogers a disease? Is bad driving a disease? Is doing any activity that may cause you, your family, or society pain, a disease?

The list could be endless....

Our society has become so co-dependent in virtually every aspect of our lives that NO ONE takes responsibility for their own choices and actions.

It is pretty sickening.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by pba1817

For those of you who do believe alcoholism is a disease and not a choice, where do you draw the line?

Is gambling a disease? Is smoking a disease? Is drug abuse a disease? Is being obese a disease? Is masturbation a disease? Is being religious a disease? Is picking boogers a disease? Is bad driving a disease? Is doing any activity that may cause you, your family, or society pain, a disease?

The list could be endless....

Our society has become so co-dependent in virtually every aspect of our lives that NO ONE takes responsibility for their own choices and actions.

It is pretty sickening.

You think alcoholism is a choice? You think someone would choose to be an alcoholic?

[Oaklawnfan]

Being a sober alcoholic, a prostate cancer survivor, open-heart surgery patient with an artificial heart valve and pacemaker, currently rehabilitating from a brain hemorrhage stroke I believe that part of treatment is approaching maladies as diseases. I drank most of my life with few major problems except for some bad handicapping then it all changed one day. There's a long line and distinguished lineage of alcoholics in my family history. Whatever you call it, I applauded any successful treatment over ego that saves lives.