Although alcoholism is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, many physicians do not diagnose the condition, and even if they do, the treatment is often inadequate. Indeed, alcoholics are often last on the physician's treatment-preference list.
Alcoholics seem to work with almost heroic persistence to earn their unpopularity.
The anger, disgust, and stigmatization that result may lead physicians to develop a blind spot for recognizing the alcoholic, to lose their objectivity once the diagnosis is made, and to be unjustifiably pessimistic about the value of treatment. It is important to recognize that alcohol-related harm is not produced entirely by dependent alcoholics. Alcohol-related medical problems cause serious morbidity and are responsible for approximately 200,000 deaths a year in the United States. In addition, the use of alcohol plays a role in at least 50 percent of fatalities from motor vehicle accidents and is a substantial risk factor in fatal injuries of all types. The life expectancy for alcoholics is 10 to 12 years less than for the general population.