Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive and sometimes fatal disease.
Researchers have yet to determine the cause but have developed a number of theories.
The theory that has received the most attention is that some people have a genetic or biological tendency toward alcoholism. However, this has not been confirmed by medical research. Studies show that people whose parents were alcoholics are four times more likely to be alcoholics than other people. Evidence also shows that people who are alcoholics metabolize alcohol differently than non-alcoholics, somewhat like a person with diabetes who metabolizes sugar differently. Heavy drinking is also linked to alcoholism.