Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19780 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-09-13
• Format: NTSC

Amazon.com
Dr. Nancy Snyderman examines beliefs and theories about drinking. Is alcoholism a disease or a behavior? When should it be treated with abstinence or moderation?

Airdate: 6/7/2000

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Customer Reviews

"Is abstinance the only answer to alcoholism?"
This extremely well written, and well researched documentary from ABC's 20/20 attempts to answer the above question. The show examines the organization Alcoholics Anonymous, and the concept created by AA that alcoholism is a disease. Laura Baw and Curtis Burk, two people who have been sober for years who got sober thru AA, discuss their choices to not drink and stay sober due to the problems it was causing them. What is different about this show is that it shows that some researchers do not beleive in the disease concept, as well as some in the addictions counseling profession. The researchers and counselors who beleive that an addiction is a behavior, and not a disase, include Dr. Allen Marlat; Marc F. Kern (psychologist), and Richard Banton. Mr. BAnton and Mr. Kern also offer personal testimony that they used to be alcoholics, and are now able to modify their drinking. The Drinkwise program started by Dr. Glazer at E. CArolina University, which involves keeping a diary of how much you drink so you can choose to change it, is also covered. Also covered is the difference in American treatment (which promotes abstinance for alcoholism) and English treatment (which promotes controlled drinking); and an interview with a leading european alcoholism researcher Dr. NIck Heather is fascinating. Throughout the documentary various writers such as Lorian Hemmingway, Pete Hamill, Malachy McCourt, and Susan Cheever who have dealt with their own alcoholism in their writings read from their books, which added to the documentary.
I can't recommend this documentary enough for people who work with clients who abuse alcohol. It provokes conversation on alcoholism as a behavior versus alcoholism as a progressive, fatal disease. There will always be differences in opinion on the matter.

good documentary to own
this is a good look at the issues associated with alcohol and alcohol abuse. 20/20 does its typical good job of looking at this issue from different angles. A good video for your recovery library.

Excellently DONE!
Finally, a documentary that takes on the BS of the 12-Step "treatment establsihment"! This documentary goes on both sides of the "moderation vs. abstinance", disease vs. acquired, and genetics vs. learned debates of addiction! This documentary is a MUST SHOW for any serious addiction educator that willing to be objective enough to show something OTHER then the 12 Step BS that is so common, and over-bearing!