Why alcoholism is a disease.
OBJECTIVE
To present the evidence that alcoholism is a disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Most specialists have been led by their clinical experience to believe that alcoholism is a disease and it is classified as such in ICD-9 and DSM-III-R. Alcoholism has both biological and psychological elements. The relapse into alcoholism after extended abstinence and the inability of alcoholics to learn harmless social drinking indicate the tenacity of the disease. Genetic research suggests that there are inherited biological factors in alcoholism. Biological markers have been identified which differentiate alcoholics from other people.


CONCLUSIONS
While alcoholics are responsible for their decisions, they are not responsible for their biological predisposition to an abnormal response to alcohol.
Jurd
S M
SM
Department of Drug and Alcohol Services, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D015415:Biomarkers; D006801:Humans; D012660:Semantics
D015415:Biomarkers