Dr. Benjamin Rush, known as the "Father of American Psychiatry," described alcoholism as what during the late 18th century?

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Dr. Benjamin Rush, in his 1784 "An Inquiry into the Effects of Spirituous Liquors upon the Human Body and Mind," was one of the first in the United States to frame alcoholism as a disease. This perspective was groundbreaking at a time when drinking was largely viewed through moral and social lenses. By defining alcoholism as a disease, Rush emphasized its medical nature, suggesting that it was not merely a vice or moral failing, but rather a condition that impacted the mind and body, similar to other health conditions. This understanding helped to pave the way for future medical and scientific approaches to addiction, ultimately influencing how society began to view and treat alcohol dependence. Hence, this classification of alcoholism as a disease marked a significant shift in conceptualization from earlier beliefs that focused on moral judgment or societal implications.

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