--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Think about the stigma that is attached…" description: "\"Think about the stigma that is attached to the idea that alcoholism is a disease, an incurable illness, and you have it. That's a terrible thing to inf..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d2/chris-prentiss-3634_aa_think-about-the-stigma-that-is-attached_2662340.jpg" --- # Think about the stigma that is attached to the idea that… ![“Think about the stigma that is attached to the idea that alcoholism is a disease, an incurable illness, and you have it. That's a terrible thing to inflict on someone. Labeling alcoholism as a disease, a cause unto itself, simply no longer fits with what we know today about its causes.” quote by Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d2/chris-prentiss-3634_aa_think-about-the-stigma-that-is-attached_2662340.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d2/chris-prentiss-3634_aa_think-about-the-stigma-that-is-attached_2662340.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d2/chris-prentiss-3634_aa_think-about-the-stigma-that-is-attached_2662340.jpg) > “Think about the stigma that is attached to the idea that alcoholism is a disease, an incurable illness, and you have it. That's a terrible thing to inflict on someone. Labeling alcoholism as a disease, a cause unto itself, simply no longer fits with what we know today about its causes.” [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that calling alcoholism a disease is harmful and outdated, suggesting it oversimplifies its causes. **In simple terms:** Calling alcoholism a disease is harmful and outdated. Key Takeaway Reconsider how we label addiction. Themes stigma addiction medical model Mood critical reflective Type analytical opinion When to use this quote - healthcare policy - public education - personal recovery - clinical treatment Key Concepts causality psychology social factors Questions to Reflect On - How does labeling affect treatment access? - What alternative frameworks exist? A Different Perspective The disease model can still guide medical treatment, even if it’s not the whole picture. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aa/) [Addiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addiction/) [Addiction-treatment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addiction-treatment/) [Alcoholism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholism/) [Alcoholism Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholism-disease-572409/) [Alcoholism Is A Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholism-is-a-disease-229339/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Change the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-the-world/) [Chris-prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chris-prentiss/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fit/) [Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing/) [Healing-abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing-abuse/) [Healing-trauma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing-trauma/) [Idea Alcoholism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-alcoholism-2438791/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illness/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Labeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labeling/) [Labeling Alcoholism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labeling-alcoholism-2438790/) [Passages-malibu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passages-malibu/) [Passages-rehab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passages-rehab-140572/) [Passages-ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passages-ventura/) [Pax-prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pax-prentiss/) [Self image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-image/) [Stigma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stigma/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Terrible things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible-things/) [Think Stigma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-stigma-1866365/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [It says that alcoholism is a disease, and that it gets passed on from generation to generation. I've told my kids about that: "You've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/it-says-that-alcoholism-is-a-disease-and-that-it-gets-passed-on-from/) [Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/) > [Alcoholism is a disease, but it's the only one you can get yelled at for having. Goddamn it Otto, you are an alcoholic. Goddamn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/alcoholism-is-a-disease-but-it-s-the-only-one-you-can-get-yelled-at/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [“Explain to me, if you will, why alcoholism is a disease but can only be treated by attending little spiritual meetings in basements.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-covington/explain-to-me-if-you-will-why-alcoholism-is-a-disease-but-can-only-be/) [Vicki Covington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-covington/) > [There are zillions of people who say that alcoholism is a disease, but not many of them believe it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/there-are-zillions-of-people-who-say-that-alcoholism-is-a-disease-but/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [But it needs to be understood that alcoholism is a disease not a lifestyle choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-dunbar/but-it-needs-to-be-understood-that-alcoholism-is-a-disease-not-a/) [Adrian Dunbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-dunbar/) > [Alcoholism is a disease. People will debate whether it is a disease of the mind, of genetics, or of circumstances. I don't have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-marie/alcoholism-is-a-disease-people-will-debate-whether-it-is-a-disease-of/) [Eva Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-marie/) > [“How do you think your body and mind would respond if you were surrounded by psychologists, psychiatrists, or drug and alcohol counselors who subscribed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/how-do-you-think-your-body-and-mind-would-respond-if-you-were/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [“Whatever you now do, whatever you now believe, whatever your current circumstances may be, you are perfectly equipped and fully capable of fulfilling your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/whatever-you-now-do-whatever-you-now-believe-whatever-your-current/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [To give up power to change for the better is inherently distasteful to everyone, and to force people to affirm that they are addicts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/to-give-up-power-to-change-for-the-better-is-inherently-distasteful/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [“Staying sober is easy once you have been successful in healing the underlying conditions that were responsible for your dependency in the first place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/staying-sober-is-easy-once-you-have-been-successful-in-healing-the/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [“The totally alive, totally conscious, and totally aware Universe takes care of itself completely. It is totally self-reliant and totally self- sufficient. it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/the-totally-alive-totally-conscious-and-totally-aware-universe-takes/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [“When nothing else worked, we created a holistic, hand-tailored program that saved Pax's life. At Passages, he and I use what we learned in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/when-nothing-else-worked-we-created-a-holistic-hand-tailored-program/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [“AA purports to be open to anyone, as it is stated in Tradition Tree, "The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/aa-purports-to-be-open-to-anyone-as-it-is-stated-in-tradition-tree/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [I think there's a stigma to some degree about the outer boroughs and Jersey, and whether their stories are worth telling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-piazza/i-think-there-s-a-stigma-to-some-degree-about-the-outer-boroughs-and/) [Vincent Piazza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-piazza/) > [We give each other a wide berth even if we have the flu, let alone... So, I think that's part of the stigma that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/we-give-each-other-a-wide-berth-even-if-we-have-the-flu-let-alone-so/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) ## More by Chris Prentiss > [“Most centers offer a one-program-fits all type of service, which is rather like a department store that sells one-size fits all clothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/most-centers-offer-a-one-program-fits-all-type-of-service-which-is/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [Your life today is the result of a series of decisions you made that have caused you to arrive where you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/your-life-today-is-the-result-of-a-series-of-decisions-you-made-that/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [“If who you are and what you have is what you want, that's perfect. 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No matter what we’re doing or when, or whether it brings us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/each-river-is-different-but-they-all-eventually-lead-to-the-ocean-no/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [“Your perception of the world and the way you see yourself in it has created within your mind a concept, a philosophy, of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/your-perception-of-the-world-and-the-way-you-see-yourself-in-it-has/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [“Alcohol is the drug ethanol. They are one and the same. Alcohol is also called ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol. It is a chemical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/alcohol-is-the-drug-ethanol-they-are-one-and-the-same-alcohol-is-also/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [Whatever you are trying to achieve in life, it is essential that you surround yourself with people who believe that what you seek and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/whatever-you-are-trying-to-achieve-in-life-it-is-essential-that-you/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [The moment you make the internal changes necessary to obtain your goal, the outside world changes instantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/the-moment-you-make-the-internal-changes-necessary-to-obtain-your/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [“Your actions create an "energy vortex" that draws in the necessary ingredients for your venture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/your-actions-create-an-energy-vortex-that-draws-in-the-necessary/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [“We like to take credit when we get a new idea, as if we originated the idea in our brain, but what we actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/we-like-to-take-credit-when-we-get-a-new-idea-as-if-we-originated-the/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [You can be happy if you are willing to let go of your past and leave yourself unencumbered so you can fly freely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/you-can-be-happy-if-you-are-willing-to-let-go-of-your-past-and-leave/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [“A strong personal philosophy does more than sustain us through the tragedies of life. It also stains us daily in everything we think and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/a-strong-personal-philosophy-does-more-than-sustain-us-through-the/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [“When nothing else worked, we created a holistic, hand-tailored program that saved Pax's life. At Passages, he and I use what we learned in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/when-nothing-else-worked-we-created-a-holistic-hand-tailored-program/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) [Explore all 125 Chris Prentiss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) ## More Aa quotes > [“Addiction is not a moral defect, and to suggest that does a great disservice to people suffering with this disorder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-dodes/addiction-is-not-a-moral-defect-and-to-suggest-that-does-a-great/) [Lance Dodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-dodes/) > [“This is the point where the knowing, irony-infused author laughs along with his readers about his time among the aphorisms, how he was once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/this-is-the-point-where-the-knowing-irony-infused-author-laughs-along/) [David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) > [“AA makes inflated claims about itself. 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