General Discussion

ismnotwasm

(42,674 posts)

23. Alcoholics have a severe addiction combined with psychological factors

Sun Mar 29, 2015, 10:39 PM

Mar 2015

Alcoholics drink themselves to death everyday. Despite treatment, AA, BMT, changing their diet, psychological help, life-threatening illness (I work in transplant). They drop dead all the time. They might even stop for years then drink themselves to death.

Personally, when you have that mindset, I think abstinence is the only option. AA itself recognized the difference between "heavy drinkers" and alcoholics 75 years ago. None of this thinking is new.

One of the most humane social intervention things I've seen lately to come along are "drunk houses" --alcoholics who get in are not required to be sober, just non-violent. They get offered treatment options, community health care clinics, food etc. some of then walk away ok, some of them get booted, some of them die. But they are clothed and warm and have a chance.

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Rethinking Alcohol: Can Heavy Drinkers Learn To Cut Back? [View all] steve2470 Mar 2015 OP

I stopped drinking at age 23 .... Trajan Mar 2015 #1

The vast majority of alcoholics who quit, do so all on their own Major Nikon Mar 2015 #5

I've seen that myself, having known some pretty heavy drinkers who managed to reduce their alcohol nomorenomore08 Mar 2015 #15

I never got to the point where I got in trouble from drinking... backscatter712 Mar 2015 #22

Yes, of course 'heavy drinkers' can learn to cut back, elleng Mar 2015 #2

yep steve2470 Mar 2015 #3

I don't believe that Major Nikon Mar 2015 #6

Please read what Dr. Milam has found, about ALCOHOLISM. elleng Mar 2015 #7

I don't really want to spend $8 just to read a 30 yr old opinion Major Nikon Mar 2015 #8

Alcoholics have a severe addiction combined with psychological factors ismnotwasm Mar 2015 #23

what is BMT please? not clear about the term irisblue Mar 2015 #28

Behavior modification therapy ismnotwasm Mar 2015 #32

Some do, most don't Major Nikon Mar 2015 #33

We are talking about different conditions I think ismnotwasm Mar 2015 #36

'ALCOHOLISM' IS always a lifelong affliction. elleng Mar 2015 #37

Has someone identified the "alcoholic" gene" yet? Is it related the "drug addict" gene? ND-Dem Mar 2015 #40

Both of those claims just aren't that solid Major Nikon Mar 2015 #43

For those interested in facts: elleng Mar 2015 #44

Those aren't facts, they are opinions Major Nikon Mar 2015 #45

Alcoholics do not have 'psychological factors.' elleng Mar 2015 #38

They differ in physiology Aerows Mar 2015 #9

Very much agree BrotherIvan Mar 2015 #13

agreed Skittles Mar 2015 #10

Glad to hear SOMEone agrees! elleng Mar 2015 #11

I do agree there can be a difference between problem drinkers and alcoholics Skittles Mar 2015 #12

Exactly, and that's difficult for many to accept. elleng Mar 2015 #14

I agree ismnotwasm Mar 2015 #26

Yes indeed, elleng Mar 2015 #29

I agree with you... FarPoint Mar 2015 #30

Yes. Thanks. elleng Mar 2015 #31

Absolute nonsense. Alcoholics can and do cut back. phil89 Mar 2015 #46

I drank heavily as a young man Egnever Mar 2015 #4

Seems as if you, perhaps, were psychologically, but not physically, addicted. nomorenomore08 Mar 2015 #16

or maybe he just found better things to do. or maybe his friends moved on and he did too. ND-Dem Mar 2015 #41

A lot of times, alcohol addiction (or other addictions) are a response to stress. backscatter712 Mar 2015 #27

That is entirely possible Egnever Mar 2015 #39

As stated in the OP, alcohol dependency varies a great deal in its nature and severity. nomorenomore08 Mar 2015 #17

I use abstinence ismnotwasm Mar 2015 #19

Like I said, everyone should do what works for them. nomorenomore08 Mar 2015 #21

Yup! ismnotwasm Mar 2015 #24

I've met many people able to quit on their own ismnotwasm Mar 2015 #18

My view may be unpopular with some: I am not a fan of Alcoholics Anonymous. backscatter712 Mar 2015 #20

I agree with a lot of what you say. AA may help some, but it does seem outdated and unscientific IMO nomorenomore08 Mar 2015 #25

I was drinking before I was in my teens, but started the heavy drinking after I turned 18... Ghost in the Machine Mar 2015 #34

my heavy drinking was self medication fizzgig Mar 2015 #35

It's very convenient, you see RedCappedBandit Mar 2015 #42