Note Card #5

"alcoholism." Reviewed by Donald W. Goodwin. Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. 2008. Grolier Online. 23 Sep. 2008 .

-“Alcoholism is considered a disease.”
-Alcoholism refers to drinking alcoholic beverages so often, in large amounts, repeatedly interferes with major aspects of an individual's life—such as work, school, family relationships, or personal safety and health.
-An alcoholic who abstains from drinking can regain control over the aspects of life with which alcohol interfered.
-A person does not have to drink every day to be called an alcoholic.
-Alcoholism is found among all age and economic groups.
-An estimated 75 percent of alcoholics are male, and 25 percent female.
-“Alcoholism is a worldwide phenomenon, but it is most widespread in France, Poland, the Scandinavian countries, the United States, and Russia.”
-About 14 million American adults/ 7.4% of the population are estimated to be alcoholic.