Jeffrey Hon

In the following viewpoint Jeffrey Hon argues that alcoholism is a chronic disease that can be clinically diagnosed and treated, much like asthma, diabetes, or high blood pressure. He contends, therefore, that it should not be socially stigmatized but treated as a health issue with regard to treatment plans and insurance coverage. Treating alcoholism as a social problem only is not sound public health policy, Hon maintains. Jeffrey Hon is a researcher for Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol Problems, a research-based organization that helps increase access to alcohol treatment, at the George Washington University Medical Center.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Jeffrey Hon, how many Americans suffer from alcoholism"
2. In what respects does alcoholism strongly resemble other chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, and high blood pressure, in Hon’s opinion...