They say that alcoholism is a disease. That puts in line with cancer and the flu.
When the flu has passed you're no longer sick. "I'm over it" you might say.
If cancer has been eradicated from your body you're said to be a survivor.
Why is it then, that for the rest of your life if you never put another drink to your lips you're condemned to forever be "in recovery" never to be fully cured of the disease?
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Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Unfair Disadvantage
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Actually, if you have cancer, being a "survivor" just means you're not dead yet. It will usually eventually return, whether it takes 1 year or 20. You will spend the rest of your life getting tested to see if it has returned yet. So the comparison is more apt than you might think.
ReplyDeleteThey differ in that the tests the cancer survivor endures for the rest of his or her life are medically reasoned. The person who was at one point an alcoholic isn't expected to submit to medical tests for the remainder of his or her life. The expectation that the person has to submit to meetings and "support" is a function of society. There is no further medical requirement.
ReplyDeleteThe former alcoholic might have issues that need to be monitored (liver cirrhosis, for example) but that isn't across the board. It's a case by case issue only applying to people who have that side-effect of prolonged alcohol abuse.
More than anything, what I'm getting at is that there is such negativity for a person suffering what is generally a symptom of other issues which fall under psychology as opposed to medicine. Instead of being guided toward treatment for the underlying issue, they are stigmatized and expected to endure a lifetime of support meetings and being labeled a failure if they start drinking again.
You fail for allowing cancer to reappear in your body!
ReplyDeleteI see your point, sir, but I don't personally see a problem. In my opinion the term 'recovering alcoholic' has no negative connotations. If, however, people are assholes then that is a matter separate from the issue of alcoholism. I fear you may be mixing the two up, like a top-self Long Island Iced Tea mmmmmmm.... and a bacon straw.... *drool*
Hey piss off I'm not addicted.
Would that be a bendy bacon straw?
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