The medical community regards alcoholism as a serious disease. Alcoholism is the need to drink to get “High”. Each time the persons need increases to a point where he is unable to stop. Some people don’t think alcoholism is a disease because it does not act like one. But, taking into consideration the damage that it causes to the body and mind, it could be described as having become a disease. It starts off as casual drinking for pleasure and advances into uncontrollable drinking.

There are different schools of thought on this topic as well. Some research results show that genes do play a part, but lifestyle is also a cause. Just because alcoholism tends to run in families doesn’t mean that a child of an alcoholic parent will automatically become an alcoholic too. There are those who develop alcoholism even though no one in their family has a drinking problem. Other factors that may lead to alcoholism are your group of friends, stress in your life, and how easily alcohol is available. At present there is ongoing research to find the actual genes that cause alcoholism.

It is possible, provided the alcoholic accepts he has a problem and wants to do something about it. Treatment programs include counseling as well as medications to help a person stop drinking. Most alcoholics need help to recover with support and treatment, many addicts are able to stop drinking and rebuild their lives. And no, alcoholism cannot really be cured. Even if an alcoholic has been sober for a long time, he or she can still slip. An alcoholic must be at all times be aware of the possibility of being over confident of controlling his drinking leading to a relapse.