Alcoholism is not a disease, even though it has seen so considered for many years. A person called an "alcoholic" is an individual with a sick body who seeks relief and comfort by consuming alcohol in the same way that people seek help from aspirin, or eat too much sugar, or are given medication for their discomfort. Alcohol is a self-selected treatment. The individual has discovered through the years that alcohol provides more comfort than any other drug, and it is readily available and acceptable (within certain boundaries) by society. In time, that individual is sick not only from the original disorder but also from the ravages of the drinking itself.