Alcohol and drug abuse can CAUSE disease, yes. They can lead to CHRONIC disease, yes. They themselves are NOT a Disease. Abusing drugs and alcohol (which kinda is a drug itself, really) is ADDICTION, NOT a Disease. You stop doing them, things start getting better right off. The liver can regenerate itself even when half of it is destroyed. The weeping sores all over the faces and necks of meth junkies start to close up. Now, the Hep-A you gave yourself by injecting heroin in your arm with a dirty needle, THAT is a different story, and THAT *IS* a disease. As for the mental issues being Disease(s), funny thing, a lot of times people have mental disorders that LEAD TO THE ADDICTION. No way, really?

Long-term damage and disease can result from abuse of drugs and alcohol. That I think anyone can concur with. And treating addiction, that's a worthy idea. But Until and Unless an ADDICT makes the choice to QUIT, **nothing** can be done. i've seen that first-hand.