Alcoholism is the continued excessive and usually uncontrollable use of alcoholic drinks. There are many symptoms, complications, treatments and ways of prevention for alcoholism. Certain groups of people may be at a greater risk than others for several reasons. There are numerous factors in how people may become addicted. Age, level of stress you cope with, and sex are just a few factors that play into becoming an alcoholic.
What is alcoholism? How does it affect us? Not aware of it, many of us know someone, if not ourselves, who is an alcoholic. Alcoholism is the habitual excessive consumption of alcohol. It is a chronic disease that is often times progressive and fatal. This means that the disease continues over time and that physical, psychological, and emotional changes often occur. These changes cumulate and progress as the drinking continues. Denial becomes an essential part of the disease and a major barrier. Alcoholic
s often drink to help their problems, but rather, drinking and denial are a major cause of the problems.
Factors of the ability to become an alcoholic depend on a few things. The age at which one starts drinking is a major part of the disease. The younger the age a person starts drinking, the more liable they are to become an alcoholic. This is due to the fact that if a person starts drinking at a younger age, the more time they have to make it a habit. Also, drinking is more appealing to a younger person due to media and peer pressure. Gender, race, age, and family history are all major factors as well. Young females that have a family history of alcoholism are largely at risk. However, the largest group of people at risk of becoming alcoholics overall is teenagers. As a form of rebellion, or just “having a good time”, alcohol has worked its way into many teenagers’ lives at one time or another. Deaths due