Alcoholism is a disease in which the affected individual is addicted to alcohol.
According to the National Council on Alcoholism, twelve million Americans are estimated to be alcoholics, and they may exhibit a wide variety of symptoms. An alcoholic may not drink for months or even years, but when they do, they have difficulty stopping. This is the only sure sign of an alcoholic, a consistent lack of control. Many use alcohol to boost self-confidence and to relax around others. They may drink to forget problems or to relieve stress.