Originally Posted by Terminally Unique

Yes, while some people will drone on and on about "my disease," even in public discourse with never-addicted people, in AVRT, we don't use the Beast, or the Addictive Voice, as a a justification for our behavior. Within the context of an AVRT discussion, we can use "the Beast" as shorthand for "that perverted survival drive that wants more booze as if life itself depended on it," and this is perfectly fine, but can you imagine saying either of the following and not sounding insane?

• "Sorry I crashed the family car again, honey, but the Beast made me do it!"
  
  
• "The reason I drove my car into that telephone pole, your honor, is because the Voices in my head told me to drive to the liquor store to get more booze!"