Alcoholism: Choice or Disease?

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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
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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
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“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.
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