Is alcohol dependence (alcoholism) a disease?
Yes, alcohol dependence (alcoholism) is a disease. Alcohol dependence alters parts of the brain from its normal healthy state, this is called disease.1 There now exists undisputable evidence provided by brain imagery scans that show differences in the brains of people dependent on alcohol vs. people who are not.1 Any ongoing debate about whether or not alcoholism is a disease results from a misunderstanding of the definition of both alcoholism and disease.2 (See Glossary.) The craving that an alcohol-dependent person feels for alcohol can be as strong as the need for food or water. An alcohol-dependent person will continue to drink despite serious family, health, or legal problems.3 Like many other diseases, alcohol dependence (alcoholism) is chronic, meaning that it lasts a person’s lifetime; it usually follows a predictable course; and it has symptoms. The risk for developing alcohol dependence (alcoholism) is influenced both by a person’s genes and by his or her lifestyle.3 For more
