[shrinkermd]

I had trouble excerpting this article since it is long and detailed.

I do note something I dislike. That is, taking the adjective "alcoholic" and making it a noun. A person suffers from "alcoholism." A person is not a diagnosis. More than anything else, imprecise use of language perpetuates pejorative stereotypes that are not only not helpful but detrimental to the understanding and early recognition of alcohol dependence.

[Lurker]

Alcoholics go to meetings....

L

[theDentist]

...imprecise use of language perpetuates pejorative stereotypes that are not only not helpful but detrimental to the understanding and early recognition of alcohol dependence.

Drink a couple Scotches and repeat as needed. :-)

[Pearls Before Swine]

Its a question of degree....

[Andy'smom]

No, but I will be after this election is over...

[Puppage]

But Alcoholscreening.org3 says I'm "below the range usually associated with harmful drinking or alcoholism"

Nothing like a little rationalization to keep one going.

[Eepsy]

Only when I’ve got toothache...

[Eepsy]

Only when I’ve got toothache...

[engrpat]

I better have a drink and think about this.

[evets]

[joebuck]

"A person is not a diagnosis. More than anything else, imprecise use of language perpetuates pejorative stereotypes that are not only not helpful but detrimental to the understanding and early recognition of alcohol dependence."

meaningless psychobable.

[ElkGroveDan]

Since before I was involved in politics and became accustomed to this kind of thing, I’ve alway been skeptical of this rush to make everyone an alcoholic.

I suppose if podiatrists thought they could get away with it they’d try to convince us all that we have a grave and serious toe fungus whether we believe it or not. Denial would be the first indication.

[Hildy]

Here’s the simple rule of thumb: If you’ve ever wondered if you’re an alocohlic...you probably are.

[ontap]

We need to get rid of the term. There are no alcoholics. If the problem gets to be that bad you are a drunk. Face up to it.

[mysterio]

Eventually, everyone who has been drunk ever will be declared an alcoholic. There aren’t enough smokers left to demonize, so it’s drinkers and fat people next.

[svcw]

I read once that if you could not give up alcohol (go dry) you were an alcoholic.

If I never had another drink I would not care so I guess I’m not an alcoholic.

[Mr. Blonde]

This was brought up on the season premiere of The Wire (Best Show on TV Ever^TM) a reporter said 120 people were evacuated from a building and her editor had to tell her that was incorrect. In fires buildings are evacuated not people.

And yes this post was mostly to pimp the criminally underwatched TV show mentioned above. :)

[jennyjenny]

Yikes. Maybe I should no longer participate in our games of taking a drink every time a dem says the word, “change”.

[ModelBreaker]

I've been working in a non-professional capacity with recovering alcoholics and addicts for years. This is a pretty good article, except that the following language seems somewhat too rosy. The incidence of relapse is much higher than the numbers described in the article.

"The encouraging news from the NIAAA's recent research is that many people do cut down or quit on their own. "That's the real mind blower," says Dr. Willenbring. "Only about 15% of the people who develop alcohol dependence in their lifetime have the severe, relapsing form. Most people -- 72% -- have a single episode [of addiction] lasting on average three or four years and then they go into remission and stay there. A lot of them are abstaining." For many people, that spate of heavy drinking happens in college -- the peak years are 18 to 24, says Dr. Willenbring. "Then they mature out of it and get on with their lives.""

[50sDad]

I was in my youth, but having a family has the unlikely side-effect of there not being enough time to enjoy a good buzz anymore, and this combines with being "calorically gifted"...it takes too much alcohol to get a buzz, and I don't need those calories. Funny world, eh?

[ExpatGator]

Is a person who murders a murderer? Who golfs a golfer? Who works on cars a mechanic?

We are defined by what we do. Tough world.