2008 Woodie Awards
Alcoholism not just an excuse
Kevin Murphy
Issue date: 10/31/06 Section: Letters to the Editor
In response to Mr. McIntyre's last article, "Alcoholism: The new way to say you're sorry," I feel a few corrections must be made.
Mr. McIntyre, while your larger point about celebrities and rehab stints is a salient one, your opinions on the diseases of alcoholism and addiction are at best unenlightened.
You may respectfully disagree all you like, but the American Medical Association places alcoholism under both the psychiatric and medical sections of the International Classification of Diseases.
While it is true that you cannot "catch" alcoholism, research suggests that alcoholism is passed along genetic lines.
To put quotations around the word disease is to further the stereotype that alcoholism and addiction are rooted in some moral failing. This simply is not the case. The fact is that millions of Americans suffer from the disease of addiction and remain stigmatized due to the ignorant opinions you endorse. Perhaps it is time for you and your "drunk uncle" to sit down and talk.
Kevin Murphy
Mr. McIntyre, while your larger point about celebrities and rehab stints is a salient one, your opinions on the diseases of alcoholism and addiction are at best unenlightened.
You may respectfully disagree all you like, but the American Medical Association places alcoholism under both the psychiatric and medical sections of the International Classification of Diseases.
While it is true that you cannot "catch" alcoholism, research suggests that alcoholism is passed along genetic lines.
To put quotations around the word disease is to further the stereotype that alcoholism and addiction are rooted in some moral failing. This simply is not the case. The fact is that millions of Americans suffer from the disease of addiction and remain stigmatized due to the ignorant opinions you endorse. Perhaps it is time for you and your "drunk uncle" to sit down and talk.
Kevin Murphy
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Alcohol Rehab
posted 8/14/08 @ 3:02 PM EST
There's a fairly recent South Park episode that takes a jab at the victimization of alcoholics. I don't agree 100% with it, but it's certainly pertinent to this discussion, here's a link to it:
http://www. (Continued…)
california alcohol rehab
posted 10/28/08 @ 1:43 PM EST
I saw that episode, and I found it very offensive. It's one thing to make fun of scientologists, corporations etc. but making fun of people who are trying to overcome alcoholism is simply not funny
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