http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh40/55-63.pdf
We often have a lot of discussion here about the term alcoholism and whether it is a disease, what causes it etc. I came across this interesting article in the Journal of the NIAAA and I know some of you would like to read. It goes over the misconceptions about alcohol problems, which were based on unscientific theories. It uses the term alcohol use disorders to describe a range of problems with different degrees of severity. Ideas about alcoholism were based mainly on the most severe cases who came to treatment centers or AA. There are many more people than that and people often get better without treatment, just by deciding to change. And it addresses the lack of training at treatment centers. One more thing, it acknowledges that medications are available but underused. Could be a good article to take to doctors to educate them for those who want meds.
We often have a lot of discussion here about the term alcoholism and whether it is a disease, what causes it etc. I came across this interesting article in the Journal of the NIAAA and I know some of you would like to read. It goes over the misconceptions about alcohol problems, which were based on unscientific theories. It uses the term alcohol use disorders to describe a range of problems with different degrees of severity. Ideas about alcoholism were based mainly on the most severe cases who came to treatment centers or AA. There are many more people than that and people often get better without treatment, just by deciding to change. And it addresses the lack of training at treatment centers. One more thing, it acknowledges that medications are available but underused. Could be a good article to take to doctors to educate them for those who want meds.
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