re: Is alcoholism a disability? Steve Sarkisian thinks so....

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You can simply say no.

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Maybe YOU can. And Nancy Reagan. But millions cannot.

I fee bad for the guy, but don't think USC did anything wrong. If he wasn't upfront and honest about his drug use at the time of his hiring, he has no ground to stand on.


If he was honest about it, which I highly doubt, then I'm ok with his lawsuit.

Wouldn't alcoholism be a symptom of a condition?

Not being able to walk isn't a disability, but a symptom of a disability, correct?

If there is an epigenetic impulse to addiction to alcoholism, and I believe there is in many cases, treatment should be focused on generating therapy and harm reduction.

It's not black and white

Regardless of what anyone feels about this being a disease or not, I honestly hope USC sticks it to Sarkisian hard for this. Legally Sarkisian may have a decent case but Im so sick and tired of people not have personal fricking responsibility for their own actions. USC repeatedly warned him and he continued to embarrass their school and brand by showing up to events and even practice wasted. What a piece of shite he is. I hope they burn him and he doesnt get a cent, and then they turn around and sue him. For what, I have no idea, but if we're going to file meaningless bullshite lawsuits, why not make it even?

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It's a choice, people. If he was truly addicted and couldn't help himself, he never would have stopped to begin with.

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Wait, so you're saying that if addiction was a mental disorder that people would never stop until they drank themselves to death? The fact that people recovered means addiction can't possibly be a disease?

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It's a disease. Period. End Thread. The it's a choice crowd to follow doesn't know shite

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Although horrible, and sad what you had to personally go through, this doesn't mean it's as simple as a choice/no-choice.

A person does not have a choice whether they are genetically predisposed to alcoholism, and if dependent, a person doesn't have a choice regarding that physical and psychological dependency. That person does, however, have a choice not to get intoxicated at work especially to a point of obnoxiousness like in Sarkisian's case.

In other words, it's just as ignorant to dismiss the controllable aspects as it is the uncontrollable aspects.

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The media is quick to label mass-murderers/shooters as mentally ill.

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I would say that many of them are. Delusion is after all classified as a mental disorder.

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I understand your frustration, but how do you suggest moving forward with different distinctions so the stigma is removed?

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The problem is that people form opinions because they don't have these behaviors and tendencies. Often they are ignorant as to what promotes these actions, and simply see it as a form of weakness.

We used to have insane asylums in this country, but many of their treatments were considered inhumane. So instead of treating people who can't control themselves properly, we lock them up for good.

I think that there are interventions that can work, but it requires identifying problems at an early age. Once you determine that you have a particular issue, you can then take actions to minimize your risks before you develop a reoccurring behaviors.

Unfortunately, it may not be as simple as that. As I mentioned in another post, our mental states are influenced by a wide variety of variables. We are starting to understand that disease isn't always as simple as treating one of these conditions. Instead, you have to make numerous adjustments in order to achieve a successful outcome. One example of this is people who are treated for drugs or alcohol abuse and months later are found to now be compulsive gamblers. There is something that their brain is searching for, and will replace it with other stimuli even if they are able to withhold from the perceived problem.

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No its not a disease or a disability

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Scientific research and the medical community disagrees with your opinion. Care to refute any of the facts?

Call me if you need to get anywhere tonight when you're hammered.