Its important to look at why someone might say the word "disease". The disease model was not created so people could sit on the couch and drink while using it as an excuse it was created to try and define something. Unfortunately like many of the definition attempts in the world of psychology (read the DSM V) they do a pretty half ass job to say the least. I think the terms malady and disorder are much safer because they are much broader- scientists might not like that but oh well its simply impossible to narrowly define addiction.
This is always a fun debate but its mostly semantics- I and many others like me can simply not successfully use substances in moderation- you could even call that a preference really, I prefer to be completely wasted and being completely wasted doesn't work out.
