Alcoholism (AA)

Recap of Biomedicalization and Alcoholism

• Introduction to Biomedicalization

  • Biomedicalization represents a profound societal shift in how health, illness, and medicine are understood, produced, and practiced. It encompasses intensified medical surveillance, increased reliance on risk assessment, the expansion of medical categories, and the growing influence of technoscientific innovations and pharmaceuticals in daily life.

  • Starting points include:

  • Germ theory, developed in the late 19th century by figures like Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch, which was foundational in establishing a scientific basis for modern medical understanding by identifying microorganisms as causes of disease. This theory revolutionized public health and medical interventions.

  • The extensive application of biomedicine to various aspects of human existence, including complex social behaviors and conditions like addiction, with alcoholism serving as a prime example.

• Historical Context of Alcoholism

  • Prior to the widespread adoption of the biomedical model, alcoholism was predominantly viewed as a moral failing or a behavioral issue. Society often framed it religiously as a vice or sin, reflecting a lack of self-control or moral weakness.

  • This perception was evident in general prohibition movements, particularly prominent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (e.g., the temperance movement leading to Prohibition in the U.S. from 1920-1933). These movements predominantly focused on male drinkers and their perceived societal harms, rather than viewing alcohol dependence as a medical condition requiring treatment.

• Emergence of Biomedical Model

  • The mid-20th century witnessed a significant transformation in the public's perception of alcoholism, shifting it from a moral failing to a recognized disease. This was heavily influenced by the