Is Alcoholism A “Disease,” A “Disorder,” A “Condition,” Or None Of The Above?
Alcoholism is the inability to control alcohol usage because of both physical and emotional alcohol dependence. It is characterized by frequent consumption of alcohol, despite associated legal and health concerns. The victims know that they are not supposed to take excessive alcohol, but they do as it is part and parcel of their daily lives. Those with alcoholism may start with a drink every day, feel guilty about their drinking, and have the desire to reduce the amount of alcohol. Treatment involves a health care professional’s counseling. A hospital or treatment center detoxification plan is a choice for those who need additional aid(Ringold et al. 2100). In addition, some may need to be admitted to the psychiatric unit or even medical groups for intensive management before they can undergo counseling and rehabilitation. There are medicines available that reduce your desire to drink, but is alcoholism a disease?
A disease is an illness that negatively affects a part of or more or all of the organism’s structure or function and does not result from immediate external injury. The disease can be due to infection or just the development of abnormalities in the cell function. For example, for the cancers, the condition is normally due to abnormal and uncontrolled cellular division. Therefore, a disease is a pathology that develops, making the tissues, or just part of the body not to undergo the normal physiology. Medical conditions are commonly known to be diseases associated with specific symptoms and signs. External immune system dysfunctions can cause severalstates, including various types of immunodeficiency, hypersensitivity, allergies, and autoimmune disorders(Bloom & Cadarette 54). In other words,a disease is a pathological or functional condition of a person, animal, or plant that causes or produces specific symptoms that do not result from physical injury; therefore, a disease is not a direct illness.
Bothalcoholism
Bothalcoholism and disease have similarities,referring to alcoholism as a disease. For instance, both alcoholism and disease cause illness, for example, addiction caused by alcoholism. On their own, alcoholism and illness cannot directly affect a person’s body structure(Rehm 135). However, alcoholism has been associated with fatal medical conditions. Acute pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas, has been associated with binge alcohol drinking. In addition, liver cirrhosis is known to be caused by many factors, one of which being alcohol. That is why many physicians will request their patients who are alcoholics to stop taking drinks due to the problem. Liver cirrhosis can progress to liver cancer, which is called hepatocellular carcinoma.
Additionally, alcoholism leads to depletion of vitamins in the body, especially vitamin B complex. The existence of either or both of them in a person cannot be evident until there are visible signs and symptoms caused by them. However, alcoholism is a result of using alcohol while a disease is as a result of many factors; therefore, addiction is not a disease.
On the other hand, one may describe a disorder as a set of problems that cause significant difficulty, pain, impairment, and misery in everyday life of a person. When you look at the diseases in detail, they are physical or mental conditions that disturb daily activities and can take much time and complicate a person’s regular operation. According to the flexibility of the disorders, they may not always be apparent in any case, and what affects one person in the same situation may not be as distressing to another(Bloom &Cadarette 55).The most common disorder among alcoholics is alcohol withdrawal syndrome. It is recognized and listed in the DSM V; hence it is managed by psychiatrists and clinical psychologists in addition to physicians. In this disorder, the patient feels sick if they are not intoxicated with alcohol. They cannot function well, both physically and mentally.
Similarly, the disorder can be chronic, reoccurring, and reminding (https://www.scitechnol.com/scholarly/psychiatric-disorders-journals-articles-ppts-list.php). It is not uncommon for symptoms to wax and diminish over time and grow into a roller coaster of increasing intensity, for example, at work, college, or in relationships.Therefore, a disorder is a very flexible and individual term.
Having discussed what a disorder is, we go ahead to evaluating whether alcoholism and disease are the same. First, the effect of addiction on the human body is evident due to its impact on the human brain. Excessive drinking may cause severe damage to the human brain lowering the functionality of a person. In fact, taking alcohol for a long time leads to what is called early brain atrophy which is basically lack of adequate regeneration of brain cells(https://www.scitechnol.com/scholarly/psychiatric-disorders-journals-articles-ppts-list.php). However,using behavioral therapy and medication to treat this effect can reduce the desire to use alcohol. One has first to ensure that the patient is alcohol-free before any form of therapy is initiated. For alcoholism, a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and group therapy has been shown to have better outcomes.
Similarly, a disorder causes malfunction of the human body in different ways, leading signs and symptoms of illness in a person. Like alcoholism, a disorder is treatable through psychotherapy(Roberge et al. 146). Therefore, we conclude by saying that although there is a similarity of the outcome, the source is different, and so, alcoholism is not a disorder.
Finally, a condition is a factor affecting the way people live or work, particularly in terms of their well-being. It exists before something else is possible and has a significant influence on the outcome. In the welfare of a person, a condition can be evident through signs and symptoms of a pre-determined disease. One can use the observable condition to come up with a conclusion that one needs to take a particular action before hell break lose. For example, consuming contaminated food or water is a condition that one will get infected with typhoid(https://clinmedjournals.org/international-journal-of-rare-diseases-and-disorders.php). Therefore, the existence of a condition can state the occurrence of a pre-determined outcome.
Can alcoholism be a condition? As discussed above in paragraph one, addiction is the lack of control of drinking alcohol. Different people use alcohol for a different reason, with the common goal being to relieve stress. Using alcohol becomes a habit with time, and so the purpose changes from distressing to being alcohol dependent, to addiction(Foster & Ferguson 356). During addiction, one develops physical and mental health problems and poor eating habits, which are the pre-determined outcome of alcoholism. In its definition, alcoholism is independent of a condition. However, addiction can lead to conditions and disorders, as eluded in the discussion earlier. That excessive alcohol intake that makes one dependent on alcohol is itself a condition or what is known as a syndrome, that is, alcohol withdrawal syndrome(https://clinmedjournals.org/international-journal-of-rare-diseases-and-disorders.php).
In conclusion, it is essential to distinguish between a spade and a spoon. Having the same shape doesn’t qualify to call a spade a big spoon, and therefore, with the existence of similarity between alcoholism, disease, disorder, and a condition doesn’t qualify to say that addiction is or can be a disease, a disorder, or a condition.
Work Cited
Bloom, David E., and Daniel Cadarette. “Infectious Disease Threats in the Twenty-First Century: Strengthening the Global Response.” Frontiers in Immunology, vol. 10, Mar. 2019. PubMed Central, doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00549.
Foster, John H., and Colin S. Ferguson. “Home drinking in the UK: trends and causes.” Alcohol and alcoholism 47.3 (2012): 355-358.
International Journal of Rare Diseases and Disorders | Clinmed International Library. https://clinmedjournals.org/international-journal-of-rare-diseases-and-disorders.php. Accessed 17 Feb. 2020.
Psychiatric Disorders | List of High Impact Articles | PPts | Journals | Videos. https://www.scitechnol.com/scholarly/psychiatric-disorders-journals-articles-ppts-list.php. Accessed 17 Feb. 2020.
Rehm, Jürgen. “The Risks Associated With Alcohol Use and Alcoholism.” Alcohol Research & Health, vol. 34, no. 2, 2011, pp. 135–43.
Ringold, Sarah, et al. “Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.” JAMA, vol. 295, no. 17, May 2006, pp. 2100–2100. jamanetwork.com, doi:10.1001/jama.295.17.2100.
Roberge, Pasquale, et al. “Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Primary Care: Mental Health Services Use and Treatment Adequacy.” BMC Family Practice, vol. 16, no. 1, Oct. 2015, p. 146. BioMed Central, doi:10.1186/s12875-015-0358-y.
Get professional assignment help cheaply
Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?
Whichever your reason may is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.
Our essay writers are graduates with diplomas, bachelor, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college diploma. When assigning your order, we match the paper subject with the area of specialization of the writer.
Why choose our academic writing service?
- Plagiarism free papers
- Timely delivery
- Any deadline
- Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
- Subject-relevant academic writer
- Adherence to paper instructions
- Ability to tackle bulk assignments
- Reasonable prices
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Get superb grades consistently
Get Professional Assignment Help Cheaply
Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?
Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.
Why Choose Our Academic Writing Service?
- Plagiarism free papers
- Timely delivery
- Any deadline
- Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
- Subject-relevant academic writer
- Adherence to paper instructions
- Ability to tackle bulk assignments
- Reasonable prices
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Get superb grades consistently
Online Academic Help With Different Subjects
Literature
Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.
Finance
Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.
Computer science
Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!
Psychology
While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.
Engineering
Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.
Nursing
In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.
Sociology
Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.
Business
We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!
Statistics
We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.
Law
Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.
What discipline/subjects do you deal in?
We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.
Are your writers competent enough to handle my paper?
Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.
What if I don’t like the paper?
There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.
Reasons being:
- When assigning your order, we match the paper’s discipline with the writer’s field/specialization. Since all our writers are graduates, we match the paper’s subject with the field the writer studied. For instance, if it’s a nursing paper, only a nursing graduate and writer will handle it. Furthermore, all our writers have academic writing experience and top-notch research skills.
- We have a quality assurance that reviews the paper before it gets to you. As such, we ensure that you get a paper that meets the required standard and will most definitely make the grade.
In the event that you don’t like your paper:
- The writer will revise the paper up to your pleasing. You have unlimited revisions. You simply need to highlight what specifically you don’t like about the paper, and the writer will make the amendments. The paper will be revised until you are satisfied. Revisions are free of charge
- We will have a different writer write the paper from scratch.
- Last resort, if the above does not work, we will refund your money.
Will the professor find out I didn’t write the paper myself?
Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.
What if the paper is plagiarized?
We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.
When will I get my paper?
You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.
Will anyone find out that I used your services?
We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.
How our Assignment Help Service Works
1. Place an order
You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.
2. Pay for the order
Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.
3. Track the progress
You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.
4. Download the paper
The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.
PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET A PERFECT SCORE!!!
