Do Alcoholics Choose to Be Addicts to Alcohol or Is It a Disease They Can Not Help?

Question by Adamsman: Do Alcoholics choose to be addicts to alcohol or is it a disease they can not help?
I know alcoholism can be treated but I always feel they are also sick just the same as if one has Bipolar or Anxiety or Schizophrenia, etc… It bugged me as a kid (teen) when my mother was critical of an alcoholic as I knew the alcoholic could not help what they were going through and was ill with Bipolar and alcoholism. Sure the alcoholic could have gone to therapy but maybe they were unaware of its advantages despite being told by people “you need to get help”. That person eventually did get better and lived happily the last 14 years (died in their 70’s of unrelated causes).
I have a great-uncle that died this past summer of a heart attack and was in treatment for cancer. Chemo could not be done because of his liver condition (Cirrhosis) and he was a long term alcoholic. I was bugged when I hear that man’s nephew say “well he chose to die at 66 like that by being a drunk”.
So I wonder, is it a choice or is it mostly out of ones control with the only choice being whether or not to get treatment and even there limited choice involved based on environment and age?

Best answer:

Answer by myfavouritelucy
Its not a choice, it’s just than alcoholics are addicted to the effects of alcohol… imagine you are standing totally naked in the street, and someone offered you a coat, you’d snatch it off them and feel a lot better… to alcoholics, alcohol is that coat.

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