Therefore would it be fair, accurate and reasonable to summarise as follows:
1. Alchoholism is a disease, perhaps a symptom of an addictive personality, whether of genetic, pyschological or other causation which is not completely understood by the medical profession, or should I rather say: has not been sufficiently researched? eg: correlation between alcohol abuse and drug addiction.
2. It is incurable.
eg
There is no validity in the statement reported in today's BBC from Lord Mc Nally, for example, that he used to be an alcoholic.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4633970.stm
3. The only remedy for the sufferer and those around him is complete abstinence.
4. Given total abstinence from alcohol, the prognosis for physical and mental recovery is usually very good although physically the status quo ante may never quite be achieved. There will usually always be some residual damage.
5. If damage to the internal organs or to the brain has progressed beyond a certain point the alcoholic might just as well continue to drink himself to death, enjoying himself as he sees it?
Thus last speaks the cynic; one who views the prospect of the salvation afforded by a liver transplant with a somewhat, if inappropriately, jaundiced eye.
6. With complete abstinence the alcoholic can usually live a perfectly normal and contented life as can those around him!
