Alcoholism as a disease is pretty standard as a concept. However, it gets tricky to understand especially when the most common treatments for alcoholism take a more sociological approach. Also there just seem to be so many factors contributing sometimes I am completely ready to say of course it is a disease and other times I am like what does that even mean.
This thread is not to spark a debate on the subject. I don't think that is a fruitful discussion. But I just read one of the most fleshed out discussions of alcoholism as a disease concept and wanted to share if it is of interest to anyone:
It is in the beginning of (intro and first chapter...I haven't read farther so I am sure there is even more)
The Natural History of Alcoholism Revisted by George Vaillant, MD
The natural history of alcoholism ... - Google Books
It draws a parallel with heart disease that really helped me understand it better. I don't know just throwing it out there for those that may be interested