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Alcoholism FactsGet the Facts about Alcoholism You Need to KnowThere are a lot of misperceptions about alcoholism facts that can be confusing and are important to clear up. When you have the facts about alcoholism then you know exactly what you're dealing with and are capable of making better choices. The more educated you are about alcoholism the better chance you have of overcoming it. Alcoholism is a multi-faceted disease which is one of the reasons it is so difficult to treat and challenging to understand. It has a biological, environmental, behavioral, emotional, social, psychological and spiritual component and all need to be addressed simultaneously or one will undermine the others. One of the most stunning facts is Alcoholisms extent. Alcoholism affects about 18 million people throughout the United States alone. The impact of this fact is striking as well - it has a price tag of nearly 100 billion per year due to factors such as loss in production, health and medical care, motor vehicle accidents, violent crime and social service programs. Nearly 100,000 American people lose their lives to alcohol related causes each year. More Important Alcoholism Facts- Most alcoholics do not recover. - Relapse is expected and the norm in traditional treatment. - Physical addiction cannot be managed into social drinking. - Probably the most disturbing alcoholism fact is that most alcoholics die prematurely from alcohol induced diseases. - No one chooses to be an alcoholic. It is pre-determined by body chemistry. - Alcoholism is progressive. It will get worse if left untreated. - Alcoholism destroys relationships and jobs. - Alcohol addiction overrides all rational thinking. - The desire to drink can be as intense as the desire for food or water. - Alcoholism is divided into 2 categories: dependence and abuse. Dependence is more severe and harder to overcome because of withdrawl. Other Critical Facts about AlcoholismAnother very alarming fact about alcoholism is its crippling impact on the roads of America. Nearly half of all traffic fatalities in the United States are alcohol-related. Alcoholism is a type of drug addiction. There is both physical and psychological dependence. Symptoms of physical dependence include an overwhelming need, or compulsion to drink, the inability to stop or control one's drinking, the need to drink larger amounts of alcohol in order to get the same effect (called tolerance) and withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, shakiness and anxiety when alcohol intake is interrupted, and evidence of alcohol-associated illnesses. Psychological elements may consist of things like the need to drink to deal with every day functioning. Alcoholism is a major social, economic, and public health problem. Attempting to remedy alcoholism on any level requires a sound understanding of the alcoholism facts involved. Having the facts about alcoholism gives you the tools you need to fight the disease most adequately.
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