The National Council on Alcoholism defines it as a "chronic, progressive and potentially fatal disease" marked by "repeated drinking that causes trouble in the drinker's personal, professional or family life. When they drink, alcoholics can't always predict when they'll stop, how much they'll drink or what the consequences of their drinking will be."

More and more studies have confirmed that alcoholism is a disease, and yet many people are uncomfortable with the disease concept. People who are not alcoholics--people who can drink or not drink, who can have one drink and not have the next--tend to assume that alcoholics' experience with alcohol is the same as theirs. The only difference, they think, is that alcoholics are somehow weaker than they are. They also think the idea of alcoholism as a disease is a way of trying to sidestep responsibility.

Dr. Sheila Blume, writing on the disease concept of alcoholism, points out, "The disease concept does, in fact, absolve the sufferer from responsibility for becoming an alcoholic, with all the consequent guilt. It should not be extended to exempt all people, or even all alcoholics, from responsibility for alcohol-related acts."

Like anyone with a disease, the alcoholic is responsible for getting treatment. "Relieving guilt feelings about having become an alcoholic does not relieve the patient of responsibility for following the treatment regimen and taking the steps necessary for recovery. Alcoholism differs very little from other chronic diseases, where following a diet, doing prescribed exercises, taking medication, attending therapy sessions, avoiding certain environmental hazards (such as bars, cocktail parties and heavy-drinking friends) are the clear responsibility of the patient," Blume says.

Research has shown that alcoholics appear to metabolize alcohol differently from non-alcoholics and to have distinctive brain wave patterns. A number of studies have indicated that children of alcoholics are significantly more likely than others to become alcoholics – even when adopted and raised by non-alcoholic parents. This inherited predisposition – and some of the detectable physical differences between alcoholics and non-alcoholics – is much more striking and prevalent in men than in women. There are many more reported men alcoholics than women, although some of this may be due to fewer women getting treatment.

Although attitudes about alcoholism have changed, there is still a stigma attached to the alcoholic –particularly the woman alcoholic. "For example, studies show that for every 10 men who are admitted alcoholics and who go into treatment, one of their wives will leave her husband. For every 10 women who go into treatment, one of their husbands will stay with his wife," says Human Affairs' Mike Alexander.

Although there is only one proven predictor of the disease – a family history of alcoholism – this does not mean such children are doomed to be alcoholics. "But those who are genetically predisposed to alcoholism, when they abuse alcohol may run a higher risk of developing serious problems sooner," Alexander says.

Certainly the disease costs Georgia Power money – in accidents, in attendance and in productivity. Treatment is also expensive. In 1988, Georgia Power's medical plans paid $493,000 in insurance claims for alcohol treatment – for 224 employees and 140 dependents – and $535,000 in 1987. To reduce the amount spent on this, some companies have begun capping the amount insurance will pay for alcohol and drug treatment.

Alexander notes, "Some statistics indicate that one third of all hospital admissions are related to alcohol and drug abuse. Alcohol and drug abuse form a fertile climate for accidents, disease and neglect." He adds, "One encouraging aspect, though, is that once alcoholics stop drinking, unless they're in the advanced stages of the disease, the alcohol-related physical problems can abate."