Excessive alcohol consumption is an increasing problem. Researchers have found that 15% of the population in North America is considered to have a drinking problem, and that number is on the rise.

There are two types of alcoholism, namely alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency. Alcohol dependency is an uglier form of alcoholism. Those who suffer from alcohol dependency often neglect their social obligations in favor of activities that involve drinking. On the other hand, alcohol abuse stems from excessive drinking and is a milder version of alcohol dependency. Still, alcohol abuse is a condition that people should be serious with because of its social and health implications.

One of the factors that lead to alcoholism is habitual alcohol intake. If left untreated, alcoholism can become progressively worse that starts with a seemingly harmless fascination with alcohol that ends up taking over the alcoholic's life.

Some of the signs of alcoholism include frequent alcohol abuse, heavy drinking, behavior changes and passing out.

The most crucial sign of alcoholism is when it causes physical, mental, social, occupational or legal problems. These include missing work and personal obligations, as well as drunk driving or other various legal problems.

Alcoholism is most often started in behavior developed during the teenage years.

Drinking alcohol can also cause permanent brain damage, loss of coordination, impaired judgment, poor vision and impaired memory.

Drinking alcohol can cause permanent physical damage to your body. Alcohol is absorbed directly into your bloodstream and can raise your risk for a range of life-threatening diseases. The symptoms of prolonged alcoholism tend to include: increased tolerance for alcohol / frequent blackouts / abdominal pain or gastro-intestinal problems like acid reflux, bouts of alcoholic gastritis or ulcers / nausea / redness or swelling of the nose, eyes, or face / numbness in the arms or legs / damage to the liver / loss of coordination, vision, balance and speech / hypoglycemia / diseased esophagus / pancreatitis / and impotence.

Drinking alcohol can be fatal. Drinking large quantities of alcohol has often led to coma or even death (even after just one night of drinking).