"dougwa" <tedw2@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:1106514045.710576.314180@z14g2000cwz.googlegr oups.com...
> Why Alcoholism and Addiction are not diseases

[snip]

> When AA co-founder Bill Wilson was asked in 1960 about AA's position on
> the disease concept, he offered the following response:"We have never
> called alcoholism a disease because, technically speaking, it is not a
> disease entity. For example, there is no such thing as heart disease.
> Instead, there are many separate heart ailments, or combinations of
> them. It is something like that with alcoholism. Therefore, we did not
> wish to get in wrong with the medical profession by pronouncing
> alcoholism a disease entity. Therefore, we always called it an illness,
> or a malady - a far safer term for us to use."

Doug,
It seems to me that in the absence of more definitive information, this
is largely a jargon issue. The difference between "an illness or a malady,"
on the one hand, and "a disease," on the other hand, may be useful to a
clinician; but it is trivial, and perhaps misleading, to the sufferer.
It is useful to consider what Bill W. said about heart disease: "For
example, there is no such thing as heart disease. Instead, there are many
separate heart ailments, or combinations of them."
If a medical professional can identify one or more of the many separate
ailments, or combinations, that comprise alcohol addiction, then perhaps
that medical professional might be able to suggest potential separate and
distinct remedies that could be applied to such separate ailments.
In the absence of any meaningful data identifying separate ailments,
however, the 12 step program is one remedy that has had demonstrated success
in dealing with the generalized illness or malady that is alcohol addiction.
Until I see some convincing evidence of success using another approach,
I personally will continue to use the one that has worked for me and to
recommend it to others who are suffering from the same illness or malady.
Best regards,
Dan