Alcoholism becomes a problem for those who drink excessively for long periods of time. The brain becomes dependent on alcohol and painful symptoms affect those who try to recover from alcoholism. 90 percent of all adults in America consume alcohol and of these 90 percent, 8.2 million people become alcohol dependent. Half of American men have alcohol related problems in their life and 700,000 people are treated for alcoholism per day.

Risk

Males are at higher risk than females of developing type two alcoholism which is characterized by severe dependency and strikes most at a young age. Females are usually stricken with type one alcoholism which has less severe symptoms and usually appears later in life. Children who have relatives that struggle with alcohol abuse are at higher risk of developing alcoholism later in life. Approximately half of all Americans under the legal drinking age have tried alcohol at least once. 1.9 million people between 12 and 20 years of age are classified as heavy alcohol users. The elderly population has its fair share of alcohol abuse as surveys show that 9 percent of men and 3 percent of women over the age of 60 are alcohol dependent and almost 50 percent of nursing home patients have alcohol abuse problems. Binge drinking is more likely to occur in males as 22.8 percent of men binge drink while only 8.7 percent of women binge drink.

Therapy

Employers, family, and friends can be important components to a successful recovery for alcoholics. They can motivate alcohol dependent individuals to seek help and act as a support network for those who try to beat their addiction. Alcoholics can join support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous in order to undergo group therapy that allows them to realize that they are not alone in their fight and that there are others willing to help them through their battle. Approximately 25 percent of those who undergo treatment quit drinking entirely and another 10 percent curb their drinking habits so that it does not negatively affect their lives. Alcohol therapy seems to produce positive results in the overwhelming majority of patients.

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