I have mixed feelings on this subject. It came up the other day and we had a heated debate at work as to it being classified as a Disease by the ADA.
We have had a few Officers come back with dirty urine from drug tests since the drug testing policy went into effect a few months ago and it sparked quite a difference in opinion.
Of couse Alcohol is a legal drug and we are not testing for Alcohol but several have failed due to Positive Opiate tests. The strange thing is one of the guys is a Detective and a dam good one.
I don't personally drink at ALL so I guess I am a little biased in my opinions but trying to keep an open mind. My mother doesnt drink, my father doesn't drink and my sister doesn't drink. It does appear that the few friends I have that consume too much alcohol also have parents that consume too much alcohol.
So I can see the genitic link but have an issue with labeling it a "Disease" per say.
"Lyme Disease, Cancer, HIV, Diabetes, etc...." are what I consider to be diseases. Either you have contracted it or you were born with it. Your not born an alcoholic nor did you contract it from anywhere.
There does seem to be a perpensity from some to consume copious amounts of alcohol when they are younger and simply continue to crave it. Others can do the same and have little or no desire to continue.
Personally, I was an angry mean drunk when I drank in High School. Basically I was an azzhole. Therefore, I simply decided not to drink anymore. Seemed logical to me.
There are plenty of people who made the SAME decision after many years of drinking resulting in DUI's, DV arrests for beating their wives or children, loosing their jobs, etc.... Again, many have simply decided that the consumption of alcohol is not condusive to improving their life style and therefore QUIT. May be easier for some then others. I will not dispute that. But you can QUIT and many do. No one QUITS Cancer....! Again, I simply have an issue with how it is defined by the ADA.
Addiction for some? Yes, obviously! Many are addicted to Opiates as well. I don't see the ADA labeling that a disease. Many QUIT Opiates as well. The addictive personality defense does not sell me. CHOOSING not to excerise Will power does tho.