Alcoholism IS a disease that tends to create and magnify social and emotional problems rather than a disease that is caused by them. Alcoholism IS a chronic, progressive disease process that can be divided into a contact phase, a prodromal phase, an acute phase, and a chronic phase. It IS NOT just getting into fights, causing traffic accidents, getting arrested, cirrhosis of the liver, lack of will power, or a disease that can be cured by just quitting drinking. It IS NOT drinking all the time. Alcoholics may abstain from drinking for weeks, months, years, or for the remainder of their life.
Alcoholism IS a chemical, physical addiction to alcohol.
Why a person drinks has nothing to do with their being an alcoholic. Alcoholism is caused by a genetically inherited susceptibility in the body chemistry and by drinking alcohol. Alcoholism IS treatable and alcoholics can live full, productive lives without ever drinking again. Alcoholics are NOT able to return to social drinking, regardless of length or quality of sobriety, as a single drink will trigger the addictive pathway again. Some people MAY develop alcoholism in only 3 to 5 years of average drinking, while others may take 20 to 30 years to develop the disease.