Slugger: Interesting that you would view exercise as a disease or addiction. There may be some truth in this for those who exercise in a compulsive or obsessive way. Compulsive dieting can lead to the "disease" of anorexia nervosa. Compulsive eating to bulimia and obesity. Compulsive religiosity to cult behavior.
In any event, alcoholism remains elusive and problems persist with how to describe it or what causes it. The important thing, maybe the "only thing", as Yogi Berra would have said, is what to do about it when you have it. Excessive or obsessive focus on what it is or what causes it may prevent a person from focussing on what to do about it. Some alcoholics often read all they can find about the "disease" and keep on drinking nonetheless. They become experts at everything except how to get well. Fortunately doing something about it can be described in fairly simple terms. It is only denial which makes it complicated. And of course the body, once used to alcohol, does not want to give it up. It will then convince the mind that there is really nothing wrong or that progress is being made when that is not the case.
W.