Can you please explain why alcoholism is considered a disease?

Many reasons: Like hypertension and diabetes, alcoholism has a genetic component. Alcoholism is a brain disease. Animal models and human evidence shows altered chemical neurotransmitter response to alcohol in alcoholics. Diabetics can't handle sugar, alcoholics can't handle alcohol--never, ever, for the rest of their life. Treatment is available and is successful and is lifelong. Chronic illness requires work!

Fascinating history: In us, the concept of alcoholism as disease can be traced to 1784 essay by philadelphia physician & signator of the us declaration of independence, benjamin rush. Rush asserted that certain individuals are biologically/genetically predisposed 2 illness of alcoholism. Though widely accepted by the us public, disease concept has/has had its critics. A popular history/critique: http://amzn.To/13gcwi1.