I am new to SR. I am codependent and an ACOA. I believe that alcoholism is a disease of families - generations of families. The actual addiction of drinking of alcohol may skip a generation of only affect a few in each generation but if there is one family member who is an "alcoholic" the whole family contracts the disease in one form or another. Codependencing, dry alcoholism, etc... I was born to an ACOA. My mother doesn't really drink - once in a blue moon. BUT she has every characteristic of a fully addicted alcoholic/codependent person. As a small child I learned to be on high alert with her; I learned to please her at all costs to myself; I learned to be codependent.
Is it a disease? Physical and/or mental? I don't know. I don't really think that matters. Alcoholism infects families and until each person realizes for herself/himself that there is a problem, the infection continues its trickle down effect.