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Woody
Administrator
USA
304 Posts |
 Posted - 12/08/2007 : 12:18:36
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Th's is an age old topic but I'd love to hear opinions, The Webster Dictionary defines alcoholism as:
"al·co·hole·ism \'AL-k#601;-"h#559;-"Li-z#601;m, -k#601;-h#601;-\ n (1860)
1 : continued excessive or compulsive use of alcoholic drinks
2 a : poisoning by alcohol b : a chronic disorder marked by excessive and usu. compulsive drinking of alcohol leading to psychological and physical dependence or addiction."
It defines addiction as "ad·dic·ti on \#601;-'Dick-sh#601;n, a-\ n (1599)
1 : the quality or state of being addicted ‹~ to reading›
2 : compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal ; broadly: persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful"
So, therefore, an alcoholic is an addict whose drug of choice is alcohol. A drug addict is basically the same as an alcoholic, just with a different drug of choice. I believe that the drug of choice is the main difference. There are many other differences too, such as withdrawal symptoms and the areas of the body that are effected.
So, by definition, an alcoholic is a drug adduct whose drug of choice is alcohol. A drug addict can also be an alcoholic if one of his drugs of choice is alcohol.
I'd love to hear other opinions on the subject.
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Ron
Junior Member
129 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2007 : 14:32:29
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This is one of those subject that can split up a group and or cause hard feelings amoung people. I was going was going to do just what you asked and give my opinion on it. But decided maybe it would be better not to. Seems like one can have enough fiction on a site without creating more. So decided to refrain for now. If others give their opinions I will also. If not maybe it is better to leave it alone.
Ron |
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Lin
Junior Member
USA
352 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2007 : 16:21:47
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Ok. You asked for opinions and I am sure we all have them.
I agree that an alcoholic is addicted to the drug of choice alcohol.
I also agree that an addict is addicted to one of more substances or things ...such as drugs, smoking, alcohol, sex, computers, porn, etc. People can even have more than one addiction.
So I think in that sense, the question is clear and correct.
In MY OPINION the problem comes in when you ask about addicts being welcome at a closed AA meeting that is for people addicted to Alcohol. Many, many times I have heard that argument. Those who feel strongly about it are extrememly vocal when the situation comes up.
I attended an open AA meeting a few years ago and somebody asked for volunteers to do yard work for a ladies drug halfway house. One fellow just about carted him outta there. He said this is AA...we don't discuss addicts. WHEW! I knew somebody had just had their mouth smacked for saying the wrong thing. Others there said..dont worry abouth it. We'll be glad to elp out. So I can see how it is a very volatile situation when you put it in that context. I really don't think that is what WOody was asking, though.
But as far as the "on the surface definition"...it's very clear. An alcoholic is an addict, but an addict is not necessarily an alcoholic. That's how this dumb little alanon sees it.
LIN |
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laurie l
Starting Member
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2007 : 08:42:15
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You know this type of discussion will probably go on to the end of time.
When I got sober in the San Fernando Valley back in '81 it was an issue. No addicts at closed meetings. My home group was a 'closed meeting' that was also the 'home group' of my sponsor and her husband. As my head started to clear and I realized how many drugs I had used also I had to be honest with my sponsor. She sat me down and we did a 'time line', 'fourth step' whatever you want to call it on my drug usage and it really did turn out that when I used drugs it was to DRINK MORE and to OUTDRINK OTHERS.
So, at my home group and many others, I talked only about my alcoholism and how it affected me and what I was doing to live sober today.
Today is different, over the years I have reached the point that I don't give a rats azz whether you call it alcoholism, drug addiction, alkie, drug addict, etc what 'it' is to me is an AFFLICTION. An affliction that makes us its slave. An affliction that takes over our lives. An affliction that makes us live only to get the drug of our choice for another day. An affliction that destroys families, lives, makes us lose jobs, homes, vehicles, and sometimes kill others.
So the hell with what its called. I prefer to get into the RECOVERY today. Yes RECOVERY is possible. There are many on this board, and other sites, and still going to meetings, and not going to meetings and LIVING SOBER AND CLEAN.
Isn't it more important to work with how to STOP rather than what we want to call it?
J M H O based on my own ES&H
Love and hugs,
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laurie
God Bless You All As You Trudge The
Road Of Happy Destiny (especially
when your trudgin thru alligators up to your butt) |
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iowama
New Member
68 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2007 : 18:40:16
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I just bought three tins of those butter holiday cookies.
Not one mind you--three.
Cuz if some is good, more is better.
*sigh*
I'm addicted to MORE.
Anyone want some cookies? LOL |
~~~True ambition is the deep desire to live usefully and walk humbly under the grace of G-d.~~~ |
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Ali D
Starting Member
14 Posts |
Posted - 12/30/2007 : 11:12:35
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I am dealing with a family memeber who is an addict, he is at that jumping off point, he is hanging by a thread at the moment. This person doesn't drink, he has no desire to drink. I can see the common behaviours, I can see the hurt and pain, I can hear the anguish in his voice. I listen to the lies, I watch the insanity.
I share what it was like what happened and what it is like now, the problem is he doesn't relate, he gets confussed and says "but I don't drink this is different." We all know it isn't different, we all know the feelings are the same, the behaviour is the same, and the recovery is the same, but he isn't there yet, the questions he has I can't answer, for example, what is going to happen to me physically if I stop? Well I don't know I wasn't addicted to "drugs". I can't share experience with this Kid at this point of his recovery.
At the beginning of my recovery in that first year, I heard so many drunk alogs, it is what I needed, I needed to hear I wasn't the only falling down, violent drunk, I wasn't the only one who tried all these different ways not to get drunk. It took quite a few of these stories for me to say HEY thats ME.
This isn't about me it is about him and he doesn't relate to my story. Sooooooo we are trying to get to an NA meeting, (I haven't found one in my community yet) we have order NA literature from the Web Site.
Is there a difference between and Alcholic and an Addict, I don't know. What I do know is that when dealing with someone who doesn't have a problem with Booze I am stumped.
So I pray, and hope for the best today.
Any suggestions, I will take them
Love and Hugs
Ali D |
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Alcoholic vs addict
