Mrs. Marty Mann and the Medicalization of Alcoholism
Extract:
“The
alcoholism movement sought to popularize the notion that alcoholism
was a disease or illness phenomenon. In that sense – and
understood at face value — the movement also sought to medicalize
alcoholism. Yet, Alcoholics Anonymous, whose emergence was
arguably the deep underlying force in the development of the
alcoholism movement, offered an essentially lay
and spiritually oriented
approach to alcoholism. Moreover, whereas a fully medicalized
view of alcoholism might promote the appropriateness of alcoholism
treatment as offered, say, by psychiatrists, other M.D.s,
psychologists of various stripes, and hospitals and clinics, A.A.
arguably emerged in response to the past
failures of these medical efforts respecting
alcoholism’s treatment; A.A. offered an
alternative to alcoholism’s past medical
handling. Hence, (a) if A.A. was the institution that,
deep down, drove the modern alcoholism movement and (b) if the
movement’s ideological centerpiece, the disease concept of
alcoholism, sought to medicalize alcoholism, then, and therefore, (c)
A.A. was fostering (albeit indirectly) an idea that ran counter to
its own program and philosophy. Go figure!” (Ron Roizen)
Comment:
Indeed! Go figure!
Cheers
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
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