In your expert opinion, is alcoholism a patterned behavior or a legitimate disease?

Definitely a disease: Alcoholics don't look or feel ill until almost dead, but strong genetic component: those w/ genetic family history far more likely to become alcoholic even if not raised around it. See kathleen w fitzgerald's 1988 book "alcoholism: the genetic inheritance." also, for brain science re this, see the video "pleasure unwoven, " available from www.Instituteforaddictionstudy.Com or watch it on youtube.