Alcohol is a depressant, and alcohol consumption can impair the brain's ability to function. Moderate drinking is not necessarily a problem, but heavy drinking can cause serious physical and emotional problems.
Alcoholism is a progressive illness involving the excessive, inappropriate use of alcohol.
It is thought to arise from a combination of a wide range of physiological, psychological, social, and genetic factors. It is characterized by an emotional and sometimes physical dependence on alcohol, or addiction. It frequently leads to brain damage, physical ailments, and early death. About ten percent of the adult drinkers in the United States are considered to be alcoholics or have experienced drinking problems to some degree. More males than females are affected.