mycatsmom
this is kinda like that question - - - if a tree falls in the forest, and there was no one there to hear it, would there be sound ?
12 Answers
tabber
Best answer!
yes to all of the above. people do use to self medicate. statistics say over 200 million people use alcohol. 19 million have a problem with it. anything can become a disease when it's abused and over used. if people did not get high on alcohol, they would find something else. humans like to explore, and exploring altered states is what alcohol and other substances are all about. a lot of people alter their states with food, maybe exercise or some addictive behavior. we would always be able to find something to use, because we and our human brains are always seeking and searching. the trick is to not get too addicted, crazy or disease prone, because of what we decide to eat, drink or do.
| 7 years ago. Rating: 7 | |
Ducky
I've known many alcoholics over the years and I've seen the struggles involved in quitting. Not easy for sure. However, if it is a disease, then it's the first disease known to man that is contracted by dumping it down your throat. To drink alcohol on a daily basis, to the point of drunkenness, is a choice followed by an action.
| 7 years ago. Rating: 10 | |
Having never been an alcoholic myself, I do not speak from personal experience, only from what I've been told by those who are or have been, along with very close observation and peripheral involvement with many. If an alcoholic feels the need to believe that it is a disease in order to ask for help, I would say to them, do what you think may work and good luck.
It is a sad thing to watch Terry. I feel as though I'm just waiting for the funeral of a funny, likeable and talented man. :(((
terryfossil 1
Not a fair question MCM,no alcohol means no alcoholism..nuff said,,Disease or addiction???..who cares what definition someone puts on it,,either way it is a major problem,,you can be born alcoholic and be an alcoholic from your very first drink,but it is not a problem right away as it simply becomes medicine for another problem..after awhile the medicine becomes the problem,,but by that time you could be ,Spiritually,physically,and mentally stuffed..with no way out,,there is always the idiot that comes along and says,"why don't you just stop drinking",if it was that bl**dy easy everybody would have done it..but yes that is the first step..depending on the depth the person has gone down to will depend on how much he wants out and the sort of help he receives..it is not something you can explain in a few words,and each person is different..going down the hill is always easy,going back up the hill is always harder,not everybody gets back up the hill..I did,nuff said..>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<..
| 7 years ago. Rating: 10 | |
country bumpkin
I don't see how there can be alcoholics if alcohol does not exist nor had it ever existed. This makes about as much sense as calling someone a caffeine addict if caffeine didn't exist. (Maybe not the best example but good enough)
lIMO, It's disgraceful for an alcoholic or a drug addict to categorize their dependency as a disease. It's an insult and it belittles everyone who is actually suffering from a real disease such as MS, Diabetes, Cancer, and the list goes on.
Here is a very good video that I think you may enjoy watching, MCM.
I think it makes a whole lot of sense.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG1A3cfqcWw
| 7 years ago. Rating: 9 | |
Definition of disease
1 obsolete :trouble
2 :a condition of the living animal or plant body or of one of its parts that impairs normal functioning and is typically manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms :sickness, malady
infectious diseases
a rare genetic disease
heart disease
3 :a harmful development (as in a social institution)
sees the city's crime as a disease
— diseased play \-ˈzēzd\ adjective
I had a cocaine addiction when I was in my 20's/30's so I am neither lacking understanding or compassion.
We will have to agree to disagree.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1299105/
Benthere
jhharlan
lindilou
clu
Fermented fruit is alcohol. It is NOT man made it happens. Many animals become "drunk" eating these fruits! Most of all things that are addictive are nature made. Opioids are from nature. ( opium, and those extracts. For all things nature made there is a reason. We the people CHOOSE to abuse these things.
So this is not an answer , just an opinion
| 7 years ago. Rating: 7 | |
zorro
Alcohol is man made. Where ever would you get that silly idea that its not. Alcohol can put a person body in a dis-ease state . Just like cigarettes, marijuana, other drugs , it affects the body chemistry. Dont think of it as self medicating themselves,you can, but think of it as self destroying themselves.
| 7 years ago. Rating: 7 | |
nomdeplume
Alcohol is not man-made, it is formed from the action of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae on sugar.
| 7 years ago. Rating: 4 | |
ausKevin
No, No, No. OK. "Alcoholism" is a label describing a physical and psychological dependency/addiction to a chemical substance. I do not like the term alcoholic. It comes with a lot of stigma and misconception. During the efforts to repeal prohibition the term alcoholic was coined and associated to the concept of a disease to imply that only some can get it and others don't. This helped to "sell" repeal of prohibition. To your questions in particular: 1st Answer: Alcohol is the normal byproduct of yeast metabolizing sugar. It happens in nature even without human influence. Many animals other than humans consume alcohol. I do not have the data on hand atm but I see no reason why other animals cannot become addicted. 2nd Answer: It is an addiction/dependency on a chemical substance. Some may have a predisposition to being addicted easier than others but for the vast majority of humans if you use/abuse a chemical substance long enough you will become addicted to some extent. 3rd Answer: Self medication for anxiety, depression and other psychological stresses is a common cause of addiction. If this is the case then those conditions commonly still exist during dependency and cannot be addressed until 6 month to a year after an individual stops depending on chemical substances. If you are interested look up the neurological effects of chemical addictions. It will explain a lot.
| 7 years ago. Rating: 4 | |
FISH-O
Honestly, alcohol is not man made. It naturally occurs. Human beings also naturally occur.
We eat things, we drink things and unfortunately we smoke things. Light fire to anything and inhale... really bad idea.
There are one-kazzilion things that human beings can do that are really bad ideas. ... and about six that we all agree upon that are spectacular ideas. The six good ones are totally overshadowed by the bad dark clouds of idiotic ideas .... bing, bang, boom... welcome to the human race.
Alcoholism is a baby-bad idea. Human beings came up with a lot worse than that.
| 7 years ago. Rating: 3 | |
