title: Alcoholism: a modern look at an ancient illness.
abstract: Alcohol dependency (alcoholism) has existed throughout recorded history. It remains a highly stigmatized illness, looked down on by society, the patients themselves, and the medical establishment. Science defines alcoholism as a primary progressive illness with a powerful genetic predisposition, highly amenable to intervention, evaluation, and treatment, and responsive to continuing care like other chronic illnesses. Society, led by an educated medical community, needs to revisit the disease of alcoholism, challenge its outdated assumptions and prejudices, and embark on a new course with the goals of positively affecting these patients, their families, and communities and improving the nation's health.
authors.affiliation: Professionals Health Network, Inc, 5192 Old Highway 11, Suite 1, Hattiesburg, MS 39402, USA; Federation of State Physician Health Programs, American Medical Association, 515 North State Street - Room 8584, Chicago, IL 60654, USA; American Intervention Specialists, 313 West Liberty Street, Suite 129, Lancaster, PA, USA. Electronic address: Docgcarr@aol.com.
authors.forename: Gary D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Carr
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D009271:Naltrexone; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors