Do I have compassion for alcoholics? Some, yes. However, I will never recognize it as a disease. Disorder, maybe. Cancer is a disease. Willingly dumping a fifth of vodka down the hatch isn't a disease. Calling it a disease is just the sentiment of todays world: it's not MY fault that I drink.......it's a disease. Bull crapola. Each and everyone of us have free will. Leukemia, that's a disease.