"Alcoholism is an illness"...
Discussion
Probably not going to make many friends on this thread, however after reading about the latest 'Gazza' event and loads of people in the news defending his 'illness' etc, this is actually a subject that angers me somewhat.
To me, whether you are addicted to something or not, you choose to do it. I was a smoker for many years (gave up two years ago), and although I was addicted, it was my choice to go out and buy the cigarettes and smoke them no matter how you look at it.
I have known friends and family to die of cancer, a proper 'illness' in it's own right. These people don't choose to have the symptoms of cancer or not, and they can't give up having cancer either.
Interested in the consensus of the forum, do you see an alcoholic as someone with an illness or a disease, or do you see them as someone who lacks willpower and judgement?
To me, whether you are addicted to something or not, you choose to do it. I was a smoker for many years (gave up two years ago), and although I was addicted, it was my choice to go out and buy the cigarettes and smoke them no matter how you look at it.
I have known friends and family to die of cancer, a proper 'illness' in it's own right. These people don't choose to have the symptoms of cancer or not, and they can't give up having cancer either.
Interested in the consensus of the forum, do you see an alcoholic as someone with an illness or a disease, or do you see them as someone who lacks willpower and judgement?
i reckon that lack of willpower and judgement may lead you into alcoholism . once you become an alcoholic i think , yes you are ill . i owned off licences for twenty years and saw people from all walks of life suffer the consequences of alcoholism .
it is not as cut and dried as you would like to think.
it is not as cut and dried as you would like to think.
GALLARDOGUY said:
An addiction is self inflicted.
Cancer, depression etc are not.
I think you'll find they often are. I suspect that, if not the majority, certainly a very large minority of cancer cases can be directly attributed to lifestyle choices. Even ignoring the obvious such as smoking, things like choice of diet has a huge effect on the odds of getting cancer. Cancer, depression etc are not.
twing said:
Impasse said:
Are you also one of those who think people with depression should just snap out of it?
Well said that manCarrot said:
Probably not going to make many friends on this thread, however after reading about the latest 'Gazza' event and loads of people in the news defending his 'illness' etc, this is actually a subject that angers me somewhat.
To me, whether you are addicted to something or not, you choose to do it. I was a smoker for many years (gave up two years ago), and although I was addicted, it was my choice to go out and buy the cigarettes and smoke them no matter how you look at it.
I have known friends and family to die of cancer, a proper 'illness' in it's own right. These people don't choose to have the symptoms of cancer or not, and they can't give up having cancer either.
Interested in the consensus of the forum, do you see an alcoholic as someone with an illness or a disease, or do you see them as someone who lacks willpower and judgement?
To me, whether you are addicted to something or not, you choose to do it. I was a smoker for many years (gave up two years ago), and although I was addicted, it was my choice to go out and buy the cigarettes and smoke them no matter how you look at it.
I have known friends and family to die of cancer, a proper 'illness' in it's own right. These people don't choose to have the symptoms of cancer or not, and they can't give up having cancer either.
Interested in the consensus of the forum, do you see an alcoholic as someone with an illness or a disease, or do you see them as someone who lacks willpower and judgement?
Carrot said:
Corpulent Tosser said:
desolate said:
I am not sure what constitutes a "proper illness"
I can be sure that a Carrot is a "proper vegetable" though.
I can be sure that a Carrot is a "proper vegetable" though.
Carry on with your debate and try not to get too angry.
What constitutes an illness, disease, condition etc? I have no idea of the medical definitions.
If you were trapped on a desert island and you have cancer, it would get worse and you'd die. Sooner than you would otherwise. If an alcoholic was trapped on the same island, I assume they would start to recover. If they weren't rescued for 20 yrs, the alky may have broken the habit completely.
Can something be an illness if it always gets better without any medical intervention?
I'm not being flippant. I really don't know.
If you were trapped on a desert island and you have cancer, it would get worse and you'd die. Sooner than you would otherwise. If an alcoholic was trapped on the same island, I assume they would start to recover. If they weren't rescued for 20 yrs, the alky may have broken the habit completely.
Can something be an illness if it always gets better without any medical intervention?
I'm not being flippant. I really don't know.
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