Alcohol: Most Used And Abused Drug

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Surveys have shown that more than one out of
three Americans have a personal friend or relative who has had a drinking
problem for ten years or longer. Almost two out of three Americans report that
they know someone who drinks too much. It is estimated that there are 18
million alcoholic or problem drinkers in the U.S. For every alcoholic there are
at least four other people who are affected by the alcoholic. This means that
in the U.S. there are at least seventy-two million other people dealing with the
disease somehow. Many people believe that alcoholics are people that are the
skid row winos and bums. This is a common misconception, actually ninety-four
percent of alcoholics live at home, while only six percent are the skid row type.

Ninety percent of all alcoholics are employed, and many work for years before
their alcoholism becomes so bad that they cannot perform their job. Federal
officials estimate that the abuse of alcohol costs the economy well over one-
hundred ...

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cardiomyopathy, this impairs the heart
muscles ability to contract and eventually fail. Alcohol's action on the brain
is what causes people to feel intoxicated. A sudden intake of large amounts of
alcohol may result in death, this is because nerve impulses to the brain are
dangerously blocked. There are over two hundred deaths a year from this kind of
accidental alcohol poisoning. Alcohol also has an increasing effect on our
brain chemistry this is what causes are change behavior. This can make people
do things that they would not do when they are sober, this a is common sign of
an alcoholic. Test have shown that long-term drinking like that of an alcoholic
can lead to a ...

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