“The Disease Is Alcohol-ISM, Not Alcohol-WASM”

The AA saying "why recovery never ends: the disease is alcohol-ISM, not alcohol-WASM" captures one of recovery's most crucial yet challenging truths—that addiction remains an active, present condition throughout life rather than becoming a past problem that has been permanently solved. This clever wordplay emphasizes the difference between having had addiction (past tense) and continuing to have addiction (present tense) even during periods of successful sobriety.

This principle challenges one of recovery's most dangerous misconceptions: that sustained sobriety means the disease has been cured or overcome. Instead, it recognizes that addiction represents a permanent alteration in brain chemistry and functioning that remains active even during abstinence. The disease continues to exist in the present tense—it IS, not WAS—requiring ongoing management, vigilance, and active recovery practices throughout life.