the AMA and every professional/doctor/substance abuse counselor/ etc etc etc state unequivocally that it's a disease. It's not even up for debate. Believe the AMA defined alcoholism as a disease in the early 60's... just Google it. Not only is it a disease but it's an insidious, progressive disease that wants you dead. There is no cure. Just a daily reprieve contingent on one's spiritual condition. It's physical, psychological, spiritual, genetic, etc. I don't even know what an AA "office" is; let alone what running one means...AA isn't a professional organization. Deaths from addiction are at an all time high, it's an epidemic. Nobody chooses to live that way. Confused about having "to go in search of a disease day after day, it will come and find you." If you're an addict or alcoholic, the disease, or the "ism", is with you every day of your life. Could have 30 years of sobriety and you still have the disease and have to be proactive in recovery. The drugs and alcohol are merely a symptom of the disease. Someone below said there may be differences of opinion...it's not a matter of opinion, it's an absolute fact. Sad people are still so ignorant about it in this day and age. There's info out there everywhere and it's irrefutable. Not sorry for the rant. Your comment was simply ridiculous.