Annalysha Bertoch

I am researching alcoholism in America. I started our by asking why do

those closest to the alcoholic hide it? Should they? How is this
damaging to them. As I started researching this, I found that there was
a consensus on this topic but it opened up so many other questions
about alcoholism in America and every day life.
I started asking why is alcohol accepted and legal? Why are there so
many different perceptions of what is a problem and what isnt in
regards to alcoholism? Why are other drugs looked at so negatively but
alcoholism is called a disease. Is it a disease?
The definition of Alcoholism according to http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/alcoholism is a medical condition in which
someone frequently drinks too much alcohol and becomes unable to
live a normal and healthy life. They also state that it is a chronic
disorder marked by excessive and usually compulsive drinking of
alcohol leading to psychological and physical dependence or addiction.
I am only including 8 of my sources on this page. I have 23 full pages
of sources.
Al-anon.
The al-anon website. Site map. Al-anon literature. The alanon family groups. Web 2008-2014.
www.al-anon.org
Summary of the website and what is available
Al-anon was founded in 1951, they have published more than 100
books and pamphlets that share a single purpose: to help family and
friends recover from the effects of someone elses drinking. Al anon
was formed by the same man who started alcoholics anonymous Bill W.
His wife and Anne B. started it for the families.
Although people commonly turn to Al-anon for help in stopping
anothers drinking, the organization recognizes that the friends and
families of alcoholics are often traumatized themselves and in need of
emotional support and understanding.
They consider alcoholism to be a family illness.
I went to an Al-anon meeting years ago for myself, having been
married to an alcoholic and I hated it. I hated everything about it. I
didnt like the people or the way they talked to me. I was angry that I
was there. I didnt want to be there. I didnt feel like I belonged there.
In doing this research project I was able to look at the other side of it

and see the good that is there. I was able to learn more and maybe
have those feelings softened a little bit.
I agree with the fact that the families need support and think they have
good values and ideas. I didnt agree with the fact that they seemed to
be teaching that everything should be forgiven because it is a
disease. I think they should be more bold in telling the family
members that the behavior is not okay and helping them to change
their situation one way or another.
This fits into the context because it is the oldest, largest and most well
known program to deal with alcoholism. The questions that came from
this source are similar to the others, Why is this behavior okay? Why do
we hide it? Why do we protect it? Why do we accept it? Why is it legal?
Why is it called a disease?

Author unknown. Written anonymously by a woman married to

an alcoholic. Alcoholismandmarriage.net copyright 2007.
www.alcoholismandmarriage.net
This is a website that is written anonymously by a woman who was in
an alcoholic, abusive marriage trying to help other family members.
She does not say anything about her education or the specifics of
what she does for a living. Her credibility comes from having lived it.
She has statistics on marriage and alcohol. She has articles on her
website for just about every scenario you can think of in regards to
family and alcoholism.
I was really able to personally connect with this woman. A lot of her
experiences were similar to mine. I understood her pain. Some of the
articles took me right back to what I had been through. It was
interesting though to read some of her experiences and see that
though it was identical to mine. Her outcome and her feelings were
very different.
I really appreciated this source. I thought she was very thorough and
thoughtful in her writing. I agree with most of what she says. I didnt
agree with her thoughts that you should stay and make your marriage
work at all costs because heck it is just a disease. This made me ask
the question, if it were cocaine and not alcohol, would people feel the
same? Would they tell you stay and make it work because he just
cant help it. I doubt it!
I think the context is perfect because we are hearing from someone
who knows, someone that has been in the trenches and you cant tell
the story without that.
Cheever, Susan. Susancheever.com. web. 1999-2016

Cheever, Susan
Author and professor www.susancheever.com
Susan Cheever is an author and professor. She has written several
books including My name is Bill about the man who created Alcoholics
Anonymous, Note found in a bottle about her own journey with
Alcoholism and Drinking in America: Our secret history. In an article
that she wrote for Vogue in 2015 she says, Any kid who made it
through high school in the states probably knows something about the
history of alcohol in America. What you might not know is just how
indelibly drinking and opposition to drinking has touched some of the
most important moments in our countrys timeline.
She talks about how a Currier & Ives print from 1848 of George
Washington standing in front of his troops with a glass of madeira in
hand and a bottle of refills on the table was later amended to take the
glass out and the bottle was morphed into a tricorne hat.
I love this source. I love her honesty and her openness with having
been an alcoholic. I love that she asks tough questions of history. She
really made me think about our history as a country with alcoholism
and why it isnt talked about more. She was able to look at all sides of
this debate very well.
I agree with her take on history that we want our history to appear
clean and how we want it so we ignore certain facts that may make it
less pretty. I dont know that I disagreed with much of what she wrote. I
liked being able to read all sides of the debate. She did a really good
job of presenting all the facts.
Her writings fit so perfectly with the context because she is essentially
asking the same questions I am but then answering them too. I love
when she asks why isnt this talked about more.
Reading her writings brought up so many questions for me. Why have
we accepted that most of our leaders were or had issues with alcohol?
Why do we accept this in our society when it causes so much pain and
destruction.
The Alltyr group of sites. The writers at Alltyr and Dr. Mark
Willenbring. Web. 2016.
Willenbring, Dr. Mark
Internationally recognized addiction psychiatrist
www.alltyr.com/dr-w/.com
Dr. Mark Willenbring is an internationally recognized addiction
psychiatrist. He has been working and leading the way to new
treatments for alcohol and drugs for 30 years. He is a professor of
psychiatry at the University of Minnesota, his research focused on

better ways to manage chronic complex conditions, where substance

use, mental, and physical disorders are often combined. He feels that
the current addiction treatment system is not built on science, but on
an antiquated rehab model that has not changed much since 1955.
Dr. Willenberg started a rehab facility in Minnesota as an alternative
to rehab. He says Our goal is to engage the patient in a recovery
process. We dont have a particular approach; we dont tell people
what to do. They rely heavily on medications and therapy. He feels
like traditional rehab centers shy away from medications and rely too
heavily on talk therapy, which he says isnt a proven way to kick an
addiction.
I liked this source because he is very knowledgeable, ha has years of
experience in research and practical knowledge of working with
alcoholics.
I completely agree with him that the rehab treatment is completely
antiquated. It is shocking that it hasnt been changed since 1955 and
that people think it would still work. If you look at any other type of
medical treatment, they have all evolved and changed significantly
since 1955.
This source was one of the first ones that I read when looking at the
definition of an alcoholic. This quote of his intrigued me to read more
about him. [High-functioning alcoholics] are successful students.

Theyre good parents, good workers. They watch their weight. They go
to the gym. Then they go home and have four martinis and two bottle of
wine. Are they alcoholics? You bet.
This caused me to ask if alcoholism was really a disease. It also caused
me to ask why we accept this behavior simply because they are
drinking.
Baldwin research Institute
The Baldwin research website groups. The researchers and
writers at BRI. Web. 2009

http://www.baldwinresearch.com/alcoholism.cfm#sthash.t2LDTjvd.dpuf
The Baldwin Research Institue researchers mission was(and is) to
study drug and alcohol use and those who participate in drug and
alcohol use and further identify methods that actually help drug and/or
alcohol users.
They started in 1989 with adhering to AAs big book over the next 7
years as their research grew they made a break from AA. They have
declared that alcoholism is not a disease. They have been continually

researching and changing their addiction therapy recommendations. I

was able to find 15 different versions which I think it they way it should
be with more addiction specialists. They need to change and adapt as
they learn more.
IlovethefirsttwoparagraphsinthisarticlewheretheysayHistory and science have shown us that
the existence of the disease of alcoholism is pure speculation. Just saying alcoholism is a
disease, doesn't make it true. Nevertheless, medical professionals and American culture
enthusiastically embraced the disease concept and quickly applied it to every possible behavior
from alcohol abuse to compulsive lecturing and nail biting. The disease concept was a panacea
for many failing medical institutions and pharmaceutical companies, adding billions of dollars to
the industry and leading to a prompt evolution of pop-psychology. Research has shown that
alcoholism is a choice, not a disease, and stripping alcohol abusers of their choice, by applying
the disease concept, is a threat to the health of the individual.
The disease concept oozes into every crevice of our society perpetuating harmful misinformation
that hurts the very people it was intended to help. Remarkably, the assumptions of a few were
accepted as fact by the medical profession, devoid of any scientific study or supporting evidence.
And soon after, the disease concept was accepted by the general pubic.

This is the same conclusion that I came to as I researched this. This

article then goes into the history or where the disease theory came
from. This was one of the most informative things I read. It really
helped to shape my opinion.
My personal experience really relates to this statement in the article.

Whilemanyadvocateforitsbenefits,thediseaseconcepthasproventobefar
moredamagingtosubstanceuserthenanyonecouldhavepredicted.Therapists
claimthediseaseconcepthelpsthepatienttounderstandtheseriousnessof
[his/her]problems.Butinreality,thisideabackfired.Thediseaseconcept
strippedthesubstanceuserofpersonalresponsibility.Adiseasecannotbe
curedbyforceofwill;therefore,addingthemedicallabeltransfersthe
responsibilityfromtheusertocaregivers.Inevitably,theusersbecome
unwillingvictims,andjustasinevitablytheytakeonthatrole.Inretrospect
then,thediseaseconcepthaseffectivelyincreasedalcoholismanddruguse.
Hazelden Betty Ford foundation
Sober Days Q&A column in Palm Springs newspaper. Dr. James
West. 1990-2000. Reposted
http://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/articles/why-is-alcoholismclassified-as-a-mental-illness
Dr. James west wrote this column from the 1990s to 2000. He was also
the Betty Ford Centers first medical director. He remained with Betty
Ford Center until 2007, when he retired at the age of 93.

The Hazelden Betty Ford foundations mission is We are a force of

healing and hope for individuals, families and communities affected by
addiction to alcohol and other drugs.
In this post he explains why alcoholism is a mental disease. As I read
his answer, I couldnt help but feel upset because it just doesnt feel
right. He says The mental symptoms consist of loss of control (taking in larger

amounts of alcohol over a longer period of time than the person intends); persistent
desire to drink (one or more unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control drinking);
continued drinking in spite of adverse social, occupational, or legal consequences; and
frequent intoxication or withdrawal symptoms when expected to fulfill major obligations
at work, school, or home.

How do we as a society accept this definition but we dont for any

other addiction.
The clean slate. Org
Slate, Steven. Cleanslate.org website. Web. 2014
http://www.thecleanslate.org/myths/addiction-is-not-a-braindisease-it-is-a-choice/
Steven Slate is a self proclaimed addict theorist. His tagline on his
website is addiction is not a disease, it is a choice. He is honest
about the fact that he has only taken a few college classes. He says he
is self-educated.
I really like this article that he has written because he has clearly
researched this topic more than most. It was really interesting to read
this. He also has personal experience that lends a lot of credibility to
what he is writing.
He starts the article by explainging where this diagnosis came from,
how it impacts our brains and how damaging it can truly be. He goes
through the history while weaving in his personal experiences.
Addiction: A Disorder of choice
Heyman, Gene M. Gene Heyman. Book. Published 2010
Gene Heyman wrote this book to inspire controversy. He believes that
the conventional wisdom about addiction that is a disease, a
compulsion beyond conscious control is wrong.
Drawing on psychiatric epidemiology, addicts autobiographies,
treatment studies, and advances in behavioral economics, Heyman
makes a powerful case that addiction is voluntary. He argues and

shows that just like there are successful dieters there are successful
ex-addicts.
I love in this book where he says That most of us avoid becoming drug
dependent, not because we are especially rational, but because we
loathe the idea of being an addict.
Heymans analysis of well-established but frequently ignored research
leads to unexpected insights into how we make choicesfrom obesity
to McMansionizationall rooted in our deep-seated tendency to
consume too much of whatever we like best. As wealth increases and
technology advances, the dilemma posed by addictive drugs spreads
to new products. However, this remarkable and radical book points to a
solution. If drug addicts typically beat addiction, then non-addicts can
learn to control their natural tendency to take too much.
Conclusion on sources:
I struggled with this research process, not because I didnt enjoy it but
because there was so much information and it was so intriguing that I
had a hard time narrowing it down. I found that the more I read, the
more I found to read. I would start reading one of the sources listed
above and they would mention a study or a person that had
contributed to what they wrote. I would then go and read what that
person had read. It felt like a never-ending cycle. I found that I really
enjoyed the research time. I enjoyed learning about this and learning
how researching could and did change some opinions and
strengthened others.
I have read 2 books so far in this past month doing this and I have 4
others downloaded that I plan to read on this subject.
Part 2
I started with the question of why is alcoholism hidden. I quickly
realized that there werent really any opposing views. There is a
consensus that it is hidden because of fear and learned behaviors. The
fear is that the alcoholic will leave and how can they survive without
him/her even though it is not a pleasant place to be. There is fear that
they will be judged because Alcoholism is a disease and you dont
leave someone with a disease no matter how bad it gets. There is fear
that the alcoholic will stop drinking and then you will have left
someone that you love and want to be with if they are not drinking.
The other thought is that it is because you become part of a co
dependent relationship that no matter how much you want to get out
of it you also come to need it. They call it second hand drinking. You
get yourself in so deep with your own lies that you tell to protect the
alcoholic that you feel like you cant get out. How can you explain that
you have been lying to everyone and covering up for them?

As I was researching this and reading, I kept coming up with more and
more questions in regards to Alcohol and alcoholism. So Where I am at
today with my research is I am focusing most on is this really a disease
and should it be? This is a highly charged question with very strong
opinions on both sides. It also leads you to questions about should it be
legal? What happened in our history to make this so acceptable? Is it
becoming more acceptable?
Going into this I had some opinions about it and strong feelings
on this topic. I think the more I learned the stronger those opinions
became in general. I did learn a lot and had some of my perceptions
changed. I also was a little ashamed of some of the thoughts I had
previously had or things I had said. I was married to an alcoholic and
thought this would be a good topic because it means something to me
as I have heard that it is genetic which means I have children that may
have to deal with this someday. I knew that I could be objective and
really thought I would also be to learn and possibly help someone else.
One of my opinions that changed through this research is that I
do not think that alcoholism is a disease. Many times I have said Well
it is a disease so I have to forgive that or excuse this. I think that
saying alcoholism is a disease is an excuse that is used by many
because drinking is such a part of our culture today in America and
throughout American history. After researching this topic I think saying
it is a disease actually harms the alcoholic and hiders them ever being
able to stop drinking to excess.
There are no other drugs or addictions that are classified as a
disease. This does not make any sense. Most of the violent crimes
committed have alcohol involved. This alone should make us question
the current system and thoughts on Alcoholism. As I read about how
this came to be classified as a disease it seems a lot more political
than I could have ever imagined. People that were tied to AA and those
wanting to get treatment paid for by insurance pushed the diagnosis
through. They pressured the American Medical Association in 1956 to
declare that it was a disease. Why are we as a society still relying on a
study that was done 60 years ago. There isnt another medical
diagnosis that we would rely on from 1956, that hasnt been updated.
The original study that this diagnosis is based on could not be verified
by Yale University when they tried to do it. The author of the study
later refuted it, yet we still rely on it. The original survey was given to
only alcoholics that were hand picked. It is hard to understand why this
is not re-evaluated in our modern world. It makes me angry at myself
that I didnt research this when I was going through it.
I think that alcohol, the laws and the diagnosis should be looked
more seriously and why we allow so much with this particular drug but
not others. I know this will never happen because our society is so tied
to alcohol.

There are two strains of American belief about drinking: the one
that holds our freedom to drink as an essential liberty, and one that
hopes to limit our drinking through law for the good of the community.
The one holds our right to drink the way we choose as sacred. The
other tries to legislate drinking habits by age, hours of availability,
open-container laws, and general disapproval.
As I stated above, I think this topic should be looked at closer but
I know that it never will. It has been a staple of the American way since
the pilgrims. It has also become more of an oddity to hear someone
say I dont drink than the other way around. You are almost shamed
when you dont drink.
It would take a grass roots movement like what happened with tobacco
companies for anything to change. Even then, I think it is so ingrained
in people and their lives that it would be hard to eradicate it from
society.
The opposition is so many people believe this is a disease, they are
told that and taught that. There are many studies on both sides of this
debate, though I found more on the side of this not being a disease.
Most people just accept that it is a disease, never looking deeper.
Myself included in that, I never once questioned or did any research. I
think at the very least, the diagnosis of Alcoholism as a disease should
be looked at. I would think that insurance companies would want to
push for this if no one else because of how much it costs them each
year.
I hear people say, oh I feel bad for them, it is a disease. I dont agree
with this in any way. It is a choice and a very selfish one at that. What
about the people whose lives they destroy. There is not another
Disease that destroys lives in the same way that alcoholism does.
There are so many opponents to looking at this issue, the alcohol
industry, AA, our history and beliefs.
This is one of the most diverse questions I have ever looked at. I have
23 pages of sources. Every time I started reading something it led me
to another website or book or essay. It is and has been fascinating. I
think this to some degree has touched most of our lives. I think this
question could be researched in great length and go so many
directions.
I have found myself reading and researching this topic only to realize it
has been hours and that I need to go back to work or family.