Medicalization of Alcoholism

According to Peter Conrad in his article, “The Shifting Engines of Medicalization,” medicalization was being pursued and supported more by professionals, movement and claim-makers, rather than by pharmaceutical and insurance companies. Activists worked for medicalization for a variety of illnesses diseases and disorders, among which is alcoholism. As Conrad mentions, alcoholism is a good example of how interests groups and social movements affect the activities in medicalization of a certain issue even though physicians are reluctant and resistant to it. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a now commonly known group that was established to help and provide support to those who have an alcoholic disorder.
If a gene for alcoholism was to be detected the process and outlook on medicalization for it would be dramatically affected. Currently, even medical procedures for alcoholism are not as much backed by insurance and pharmaceutical companies since it is looked at not as a genetically passed on disorder, but rather as a poor lifestyle choice. If it were proven that alcoholism was more likely in some people due to genetic composition, then the disorder would be considered more medical and would be supported by more physicians. Groups and organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous would continue to exist and support its members without direct medical treatment, but the disorder would receive more backing from pharmaceutical and insurance companies along with physician care.