Alcoholism: Is it a Disease?
Have you every considered the people you know in your life who always seem to be 'under the influence' as actually 'patients' who are suffering from a terrible disease?
Dr. Cannon states,"Alcoholism meets the standard definition of a disease better than multiple sclerosis or schizophrenia, two diseases for which the pathophysiology is far less clearly understood.Yet people with these diseases are recognized as qualifying to be ‘patients."I challenge you to read this article and think about this issue as it does effect you, and those around you, in many more ways than you may realize. As for our nursing and medicine students, being vigilant and cognizant with regards to alcoholism and other possible addictions when serving your patients, will result in a more satisfatory health outcome. Three simple screening tests to help you identify patients with an alcohol problem are available on the NIAAA website (The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).
Labels: addictions medicine, alcohol consumption, alcoholism, Dr. Mary Jo Cannon, IUON, mental disorders, mental health, NIAAA, UMHS-SK
posted by Ann Celestine @ 11:49 AM
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