Alcoholism | Chapter 2 Preface

Many experts disagree about whether alcoholism is a disease or merely a bad habit. Supporters of the disease model, including the American Medical Association, contend that alcoholics are victims of a medical condition that develops in individuals who have certain innate risk factors for the disease, such as a genetic predisposition or unusual brain chemistry. Those who reject this view believe that alcoholism is not a biological disease, but rather a self-destructive behavior which an individual can overcome through willpower and psychological counseling.

The disease model first...

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