What is Alcoholism? The National Council on Alcoholism defines it as:
A chronic, progressive, and potentially fatal disease characterized by tolerance and physical dependency or organ changes, or both. Generally, alcoholism is repeated drinking that causes trouble in the drinker's personal, professional, or family life. When they drink, alcoholics can't always predict when they'll stop, how much they'll dink, or was the consequences of their drinking will be. Denial of the negative effects alcohol has in their lives is common in alcoholics and those close to them (Monroe 33).
Alcoholism is a deadly disease. Statistics show that 50% of highway deaths are alcohol related (Black 151), 30 to 40% of hospital beds are filled with alcoholics and the third leading cause of death in America is alcohol (McCracken Audio). However, alcohol is not only the alcoholics problem. Alcoholism is a family illness.
The children of alcoholics in particular are in great......
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