Alcoholism: Choice or Disease?

598 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Addiction is a choice essay

Research has shown that alcoholism is a choice and not a disease and a choice for an individual to begin consumption. Nation’s leading scientists studying alcohol abuse has determined that a human can travel down a long road before it’s almost impossible for them to refrain from alcohol, therefore meaning a large amount of alcohol would have to be consumed. Studies show that most people never reach the point of being an alcoholic, yet they still have the power to quit drinking. A disease is something that one has to accept, such as Cancer, Sickle Cell Anemia, or Alzheimer. Unlike a disease in most cases that the body cannot control, alcoholism is a mindset. Alcohol does not impair brain functions, but instead produces a complex set of adaptations that tamper down the functions of some brain regions while dialing up functions of others. While the opposing side believes that alcohol can cause brain disease, specifically the prefrontal cortex and dorsal striatum, research has shown that it does not impair brain functions only affecting the brain for a short period, thus allowing time to return them back to a normal state. Researchers led by Andrew Holmes Ph. D. in the Laboratory of Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience at NIAAA, measured changes of the brains of mice after being exposed to alcohol vapors finding permanent changes in the nerve cells that conduct signals as well as changes in the part of the brain’s signaling system that may play a role in sensation, mood, and memory. Although researchers found the previous changes were permanent, exposing mice to alcohol actually improved the ability for them to make decisions and improving their skills on learning tasks.

Alcoholism is not a disease, but a behavioral pr...

... middle of paper ...

...possible to overcome an alcohol addiction. One must make the decision and be proactive and be a committed participant in an effective treatment program.

Works Cited

Skog, Ole-Jorgen. “Addict’s choice.” Addiction Sept. 2000: 1309. Academic Search
Premier. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.
Beck, Melinda. “In Search of Alcoholism Genes.” Wall Street Journal. 08 Feb.
2011: D.1. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 14 Apr. 2014
Gillis, Charlie. “Addiction: New Research Suggests It’s a Choice.” Maclean’s
(Toronto, Canada) Vol. 122, No. 20. 01 Jun. 2009: 19-21. SIRS Issue
Researcher. Web. 14 Apr. 2014
“NIH Study Finds Chronic Alcohol Use Shifts Brain’s Control of Behavior.” NIH
News Release. 22 Aug. 2013: n.p. SIRS Government Reporter. Web. 14 Apr.
2014
Roan, Shari. “You Can Cut Back.” Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA). 16 Nov.
2009: E.1. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 14 Apr. 2014

Show More
Related

  • Addiction: A Desease Or A Choice?

    675 Words  | 2 Pages

    People argue whether drug addiction is a disease or a choice. Today, I will be discussing this argument in hopes to have a better understanding as to why this topic is so controversial. Throughout my research, I easily found information on this topic and I am still not sure I have found any answers.

    Read More

  • Alcoholism: Recovery Experiences Between Men And Women

    2428 Words  | 5 Pages

    Most alcoholics proceed to a stage where their brains or their bodies have been so harmed by alcohol that the effects persist even when they are not drinking. This stage may be reached...

    Read More

  • Is Alcoholism A Type Of Behavior?

    1280 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is said to believe that alcoholism is a type of behavior, which is why it shouldn’t just be studied by medical doctors, but by psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychoanalysts. Why? Psychology is the study of human behavior. This article argues that alcohol addiction is distinguished by an imbalance of two different psychological reports leading to the loss of willpower (Bechara 2005). The first one being a spontaneous reaction for signaling immediate expectations. The second report is a reflective reaction needed to decrease the response triggered by the impulsive system. The article also reviews some candidates that can trigger alcohol use either knowingly or unknowingly. According to Alcoholism and the Loss of Willpower, alcohol-related stimuli capture the attention of problematic users of alcohol, triggers specific attributes (good/bad and sedative/arousal), and both of which could increase the likelihood to drink more alcohol or to drink in inappropriate situations, like before an exam or before driving a car. (Page 1) Another main aspect of alcoholism is the diminished extent for self-control. This also includes things like addicts not being able to efficiently execute certain behaviors and regulate their emotions and feelings. This can have a lot to do with the insula, which is a region of the brain deep inside the cerebral cortex. Where a lot of decision making takes place here, once the insula is engaged it makes conscious and unconscious decisions to drink that beer or take that drug. All of these findings conclude to possessing willpower. “Willpower depends in many important ways on neural substrates that regulate homeostasis, emotion, and feeling.” (Persaud, McLeod, & Cowey, 2007) All these understandings of alcohol...

    Read More

  • Recovery Essay

    811 Words  | 2 Pages

    Overcoming an addiction to alcohol can be a long and bumpy road. Many people feel that it is impossible to overcome an alcohol addiction. Many people feel that is it easier to be an addict than to be a recovering addict. However, recovering from alcoholism is possible if one is ready to seek the help and support they need on their road to recovery. Recovery is taking the time to regain one’s normal mind, health and strength. Recovery is process. It takes time to stop the alcohol cravings and pressure to drink. For most, rehab and professional help is needed, while others can stop drinking on their own. Recovery never ends. After rehab, professional help or quitting on your own, many people still need help staying sober. A lot of time, recovering

    Read More

  • Is Addiction A Disease Or A Choice Essay

    1474 Words  | 3 Pages

    Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Addiction is normally thought of as drug abuse and alcoholism but people can also be addicted to things such as gambling and sex as well. The controversy on if addiction is a disease or a choice is a continuous debate. Everyone has an opinion on this topic, one side believes it’s a disease, while the other believes it is a choice. Although addiction has been assumed to be a lack of willpower and a weakness, addiction is actually a complex disease that changes the wiring of the brain. Addiction is a brain disease expressed in the form of compulsive behavior (Leshner.) Both devolping

    Read More

  • Addiction Is A Problem Of Addiction

    791 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 2010, an estimated 23.5 million Americans were addicted to alcohol and/or drugs and needed treatment or supportive services (Partnership for drug free kids). Most people make the assumption that those that are addicted to a substance are just making poor choices. I will have to admit that I was one of those people that thought that it should be easy to quit something so toxic. It wasn 't until I did the research myself that I found addiction is actually a disease. It takes a lot more then willpower to just stop using something that a person 's brain has become so accustomed to. With all of the advances in science we now have a better idea of what leads to addiction. This doesn 't mean that poor choices and life decisions don 't attribute to addiction, but these causes increase the likelihood of an individual becoming addicted to a substance. The majority of individuals that abuse drugs or alcohol will admit to having a history of childhood trauma, alcoholics in the family, or drug use in their social circle.

    Read More

  • Alcoholism Case Study

    671 Words  | 2 Pages

    The National Institution of Health published this article for the purpose of explaining about the human brain and it’s relation to alcohol. According to the article, people with alcoholism have been known to have problems with skills in their prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that controls decision-making and emotions. These same people show exaggerated neural responses in the dorsal striatum due to alcohol-related cues. This information shows that excessive drinking can affect learning and control of behavior and emotion. This information can be helpful in my paper because it explains that alcohol is a disease that affects the brain and it will help me try to prove my point of view.

    Read More

  • Sobriety

    527 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to the American Heritage Dictionary, alcoholism is defined as "the compulsive consumption of and psychophysiological dependence on alcoholic beverages." It is a problem that can tear apart marriages and families, cause someone to lose his job, and many more negative results. In order to recover from this dependency a person must lose his desire for and dependence upon alcohol, continue to remain sober, and resolve all conflicts caused by the alcohol abuse. There are several alternatives an alcoholic has to rehabilitate himself. The best solution is a combination of individual therapy and a support group like Alcoholics Anonymous.

    Read More

  • Alcohol Abuse: Alcoholism as a Disease

    2169 Words  | 5 Pages

    The problem of alcohol abuse has been recognized for thousands of years, but only more recently have we begun to see alcohol addiction as a treatable disorder. According to the Classical Disease Model of `Alcoholism,' habitual use of alcohol can be identified as a disease. Webster's Dictionary defines the concept of `disease' as follows: "Any departure from health presenting marked symptoms; malady; illness; disorder." Therefore, as many occurrences of alcohol excess provoke such symptoms, it is somewhat understandable that `alcoholism' is classified as a disease. The Classical Disease Model appears to offer a hopeful option. Treatment and sobriety can allow people to lead fulfilling lives. Adjacent to the notion of alcoholism as personal failure or moral deterioration, the Classical Disease Model appears to be a more desirable concept as it provides a motive for the alcoholic to seek treatment and gain sympathy, minimizing personal guilt. As alcoholism is seen as a progressive and, to an extent, hereditary illness for which those afflicted are not accountable, victims avoid being ostracized from society (Jellinek, 1960). Labeling the problem as a `disease' allows the medical profession to take responsibility for the treatment of alcoholism, which puts the problem in a more favourable light than if it were in the hands of psychologists or social workers, thus detaching the stigma connected with the problem while it is put on a par with other diseases such as diabetes or cancer. However, critics of the Classical Disease Model believe stigma helps reduce alcohol problems and aids the alcoholic. Any effort to reduce the stigma which is faced by the alcoholic will reduce pressures to moderate consumption and could have the additional ...

    Read More

  • The Negative Effects Of Drinking

    1630 Words  | 4 Pages

    First and foremost, alcoholism is hard to break due to the brain craving created by a drinking habit. According to Charles Duhigg in The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, habit is created when there are a cue, a routine, and a reward that develop a craving that make people repeat the loop(49). The craving for drinking is generally cultivated by the short-term reward resulted from drinking. Most alcoholics believe that drinking can help them to escape from their hard times and forget their problems. Elizabeth

    Read More

  • Alcoholism is a Disease

    675 Words  | 2 Pages

    To understand alcoholism, it must first be understood what this affliction is dependent on. Alcohol is a substance that is made by the fermentation of fruits, grains, or miscellaneous other organic materials. The chemical, alcohol, is a depressant and acts on every cell in the human body. Due to this, the central nervous system, along with the pleasure centers of the brain, are affected resulting in a feeling of euphoria and a sense of well being. After repeated exposure, the brain becomes dependent on this drug to unburden itself whenever it feels the compulsion. Several factors that contribute to alcoholism are the individual’s psychology, genetics, culture, and the individual’s response to physical pain.

    Read More

  • Life Orientation: Alcohol Assignment

    1114 Words  | 3 Pages

    Addiction can definitely be managed and overcome, but there is no agreement regarding if one is really ever cured from one’s addiction. 6. Personal wellbeing: as mentioned and researched in task two, in the long run, one may suffer from (possibly fatal) diseases caused by alcohol abuse e.g. cirrhosis. Rehabilitation: when one is admitted to rehab, the time one might spend there in order to recover is unpredictable. One’s life is at a standstill, you will not be employed and will have no source of income and will be dependant on those who care for you – friends and family etc.

    Read More

  • The Tragedy of Alcoholism

    957 Words  | 2 Pages

    Alcoholism is a disease in which the drinking of alcohol becomes uncontrollable. Compulsion and craving of alcohol rules the life of the alcoholic. Many of us drink alcohol to socialize which is not alcoholism. An alcoholic is a frequent habitual user. Alcohol, a central nervous system depressant, dulls the senses especially vision and hearing. Signs of alcoholism are tremors, delirium, inability to concentrate and many others. “According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, more than 13 million Americans abuse alcohol”(Mayo Clinic Health Information 1). There are many causes leading an individual to alcoholism. Alcohol damaging effects are physically, psychologically, and socially devastating.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay: The Problem Of Alcohol Consumption

    1148 Words  | 3 Pages

    Health problem and drunk driving hit the list. Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways, and can affect the way the brain looks and works. In addition, alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that can eventually lead to pancreatitis, a dangerous inflammation and swelling of the blood vessels in the pancreas that prevents proper digestion [3]. Not only that, alcohol can also increase the risk of developing certain cancer. But almost every drinker knows these horrible diseases above, then why they never stop drinking? The point is, a short-term alcohol consumption does tiny harm to human’s body, only long-term alcohol consumption can impair the body badly. Nevertheless, the contradiction is apparent to find out: when a drinker finds that there is something wrong with their health, it is too late. And in a drinker’s early life, they can not completely realize which kind of damage that alcohol consumption can lead because they were healthy at that time——at least on the surface. Alcohol just like a chronic disease, making drinkers less vigilant, and brings on severe health consequences in the end.

    Read More

  • An Essay About Drug Addiction

    1114 Words  | 3 Pages

    In conclusion drug addiction is a very terrible and challenging problem. It affects individuals, families, and the people around them. It is important that drug addicts realize that they must want to stop and seek help for the problem. The drug addict needs the support of friends and family, so they can make it through this process. The process to recover from drug addiction can take a lifetime. There is hope for a drug addict who wants to change their life for the better.

    Read More

More about Alcoholism: Choice or Disease?

Open Document