Ten percent of the adult drinkers in the U.S are considered alcoholics or at least experience drinking problems to some degree. Surveys have shown that more than one out of three Americans have a personal friend or relative who has had a drinking problem for ten years or longer. Almost two out of three Americans report that they know someone who drinks too much. For every alcoholic there are at least four other people who are affected by the alcoholic. This means that in the U.S. there are at least seventy-two million other people dealing with the disease somehow.
Many people believe that alcoholics are people that are the skid row winos and bums.
This is a common misconception, actually ninety-four percent of alcoholics live at home, while only six percent are the skid row type. Ninety percent of all alcoholics are employed, and many work for years before their alcoholism becomes so bad that they cannot perform their job. Federal officials estimate that the abuse of alcohol costs the economy well over one-hundred billion dollars every year. Alcohol does this by making people be less productive at work, taking more sick days, sustaining on the job injuries, collecting more workmen's compensation, and increasing health insurance premiums. Physical Effects Prolonged alcohol use like that of an alcoholic can lead to permanent damage of your body.