Alcoholism Research

Alcoholism research has shown it is a progressive and potentially a very fatal disease.  Although there is no alcoholism cure, it is possible for a complete recovery. Recovering from alcoholism is to abstain from all forms of alcoholic beverages and medications that contain alcohol such as cough medicines. That's right all alcohol!

Some say that alcoholism is not a disease, but it is considered a chronic illness. Alcoholism research has shown as with any chronic illness, it affects entire families, co-workers and friends. As a result, the recovery process also affects the entire family and network of friends of the alcoholic.  Even though alcoholism in the family can be hard on the family, the good news is that these people can serve as a good support network to enable the alcoholic to abstain from drinking alcohol.  The same way a family would or should support a chronically ill person is how the alcoholic should be treated because the alcoholism is chronic.

Alcoholism research shows that anyone who is an alcoholic will be for the rest of his or her lives.  Even though there is no alcoholism cure, there is hope for alcoholics.  That is where recovery comes in - the abstinence from all alcohol on the part of the addicted person.  This is where the control part of the disease comes into play.  It is important to be able to control the desire to have alcohol and to choose not to drink it.  Unfortunately, the sheer nature of being an alcoholic is defined by the lack of an ability to control ones drinking.  In order to enter the recovery phase and thus control the disease itself, the alcoholics must come to the place where they are able and willing to take control, see the effects of alcoholism  and stop reaching for alcohol.  Research has shown that the alcoholics cannot willfully control their drinking and therefore should be abstinent.  All alcoholics have to accept responsibility for their addiction and recovery.

Even though we define alcoholism as the lack of an ability to control one's drinking, there are some programs that highlight the issue of control of alcoholism and they do not mandate abstinence from alcohol.  Rationing and moderation programs such as these allow the person to have alcohol but with every drink, the person becomes less able to decide that the next drink is a bad idea. Alcoholism research has shown, most alcoholics are unable to limit their drinking and absolutely must abstain from alcohol all together to be successful.  This is still considered being in control of the disease.  In fact, alcoholism research shows once alcoholics have exhibited control over the disease by abstinence, rationing or moderation the person is said to be in remission.

Regardless of solid alcoholism research, the American Psychiatric Association considers remission to be where the physical and mental aspects of alcoholism are no longer evident regardless of whether or not the person is still drinking.  Most others use the term remission only after alcoholics have completely stopped the consumption of all alcohol.

Alcoholism research has shown regardless of whether the alcoholic totally abstains from alcohol or just drinks in moderation, alcoholism is a controllable disease.  However, alcoholism is not considered curable because the alcoholic can easily relapse back into the acute phase of the disease many times with just one simple drink or one episode of over drinking.  Even when the alcoholic is in remission, he is still considered an alcoholic and will be an alcoholic for the rest of his life.  Regardless of the amount of years since active alcohol consumption, the person remains an alcoholic.  As with any chronic illness, the possibility is always at the forefront for the person to relapse into acute, active alcoholism.