For decades, studies have been done trying to determine the cause and cure of alcoholism. Dr. Denis Mee-Lee says those studies have even included looking at particular ethnic and socio-economic groups.
"So if you take the studies that we've done here in Hawaii, a few times over the past several years, yes there's some ethnic groups that tend to have higher rates of alcoholism," Dr. Mee-Lee said.
In many cases, the studies lead researchers back to square one - for example, they find it is not the quantity of alcohol used that makes a difference.
"So I would say, it's fairly simple to tell - if the drinking patterns are affecting the individual's life, the quality of life, the functionality of life, all those issues with the family or the significant system of the person," Mee-Lee said.
The natural instinct of anyone faced with an addiction problem - whatever it might be - is to say, well, how about if I just cut back?
"It's not possible to do a little bit of it because once that addictive pattern has taken hold of us, it will almost always extend to the overwhelming impact upon our lives again," Mee-Lee said.
Dr. Mee-Lee points out that addiction is addiction.
"Any drugs, probably work, probably sexual behaviors, whatever - once it becomes addictive, that repetitive pattern, obsessive thinking about it really stays with us for the rest of our lives," Mee-Lee said.
Significant others may have to intervene in the life of an alcoholic - most people will go through their lives without a problem.
"A few of us though, maybe five or ten percent will develop a serious problem. And when that is happening, it's an illness then, it's a disease. We need to do something about it," Mee-Lee said.
