A person with 20 years of continuous sobriety is just as likely to relapse as a person with 20 days of sobriety. For some programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, the ongoing fight against excessive drinking is defined as a fight against a disease. By defining alcoholism as a disease, we eliminate the feeling of guilt that one should feel for fueling such an addiction. Rather, an illness is an uncontrollable condition that requires medical attention, whereas an addiction can be resolved with a little perseverance and a desire for life change. Defining alcoholism as a disease gives the impression that no one is responsible for their actions, since when did people stop holding themselves responsible for their own actions and behaviors? Alcoholism would be more properly defined as an addiction rather than a disease because it exists because of a person's actions. An illness should be considered an uncontrollable illness that can negatively impact life over a consistent period of time. Illnesses are not wanted, nor would we fuel the progression of illness by continually repeating the same behavior. Some specific diseases are transmitted genetically and appear from birth. An addiction, on the other hand, is the repetition of a particular behavior regardless of the consequences. If the behavior stops, it is not uncommon for withdrawal symptoms to become evident. An addiction is something that results from personal choice and is controllable based on actions taken. An addiction can be stopped at any time with a little persistence and dedication to changing the behavior that fuels the addiction. On the other hand, an illness can sometimes be cured through medical care, depending on the illness, as opposed to just j...... middle of paper ...... an addiction can fluctuate between being constant or non-existent, an illness is constant and no one has control over the issue. Another piece of evidence that disqualifies alcoholism as a disease is the simple fact that it affects the person on a psychological rather than a biological basis. In other words, medical treatment is not necessary to overcome addiction. Works Cited “Alcoholism”. Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th edition (2013): 1-2. Premier Academic Research. Internet. March 19, 2014.Digilio, G.-O. “Alcoholism, the disease of thought.” Lesbian News 39.4 (2013): 18. Academic Research Premier. Internet. March 19, 2014. Kneale, James and Shaun French. “Mapping alcohol: health, politics and the geography of drinking problems in Britain.” Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy 15.3 (2008): 233-249. Academic Search Premier. Internet. March 19. 2014.