The statistics on alcoholism are mind blowing. Alcoholism is a serious problem in today's society. It is extremely important that the public, including the large groups of users and abusers of alcohol, gain as much knowledge as possible about the symptoms and effects of alcoholism if we ever want to see the reduction of statistics involving fatalities, injuries, diseases caused from the use and abuse of alcohol. Education and realization of the effects alcoholism can have on the different aspects of a person's life are the best ways that we can help lower the number of individuals who are addicted to alcohol.

The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences estimates that alcoholism and alcohol abuse in the United States cost society from $40 to $60 billion annually, due to the lost production, health and medical care, motor vehicle accidents, violent crime, and social programs that respond to alcohol problems.

One half of all traffic fatalities and one-third of all traffic injuries are related to to the abuse of alcohol. Accidents and suicides that are associated with alcohol problems are especially prominent in the teen years.

It is estimated that over 3 million teens between the ages of 14 and 17 in the United States today are problem drinkers.

Youth who began drinking before they turned 15 were twice as likely to develop an alcohol abuse problem and four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence, compared with persons who did not begin drinking before age 21.

Currently, nearly 14 million Americans—1 in every 13 adults-abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. Several million more adults engage in risky drinking patterns that could lead to alcohol problems. In addition, approximately 53 percent of men and women in the United States report that one or more of their close relatives have a drinking problem.

Alcohol contributes to 100,000 deaths annually, making it the third leading cause of preventable mortality in the United States after tobacco and diet/activity patterns.

More than seven percent of the population ages 18 years and older -- nearly 13.8 million Americans -- have problems with drinking, including 8.1 million people who are alcoholic.

Almost three times as many men (9.8 million) as women (3.9 million) are problem drinkers, and prevalence is highest for both sexes in the 18-to-29 age group.

About 43% of U.S. adults -- 76 million people -- have been exposed to alcoholism in the family -- they grew up with or married an alcoholic or a problem drinker or had a blood relative who was an alcoholic or problem drinker.

62% of high school seniors report that they have been drunk; 31% say they have had five or more drinks in a row during the last two weeks.

3.1 million Americans -- approximately 1.4% of the population 12 and older -- received treatment for alcoholism and alcohol-related problems in 1997; treatment peaked among people 26-34.

Studies of suicide victims in the general population show that about 20% are alcoholic.

1/3 of alcoholic deaths are from suicides or accidents such as drownings, head injuries from falling, or car crashes.

As many as 3 million Americans over the age of 60 are alcoholics or have serious drinking problems.

An estimated 6.6 million children under 18 live in households with at least one alcoholic parent.

About 43% of adults in the US (76 million people) have had a parent, child, sibling or spouse who is or was an alcoholic.

Two-thirds of the population consumes alcohol, but 10% of drinkers drink half of all alcohol consumed.

Alcohol contributes to 100,000 deaths annually, making it the third leading cause of preventable death in this country.

41% of all traffic fatalities are alcohol related.

Although there are fewer deaths from alcohol related causes than from cancer or heart disease, alcohol related deaths tend to occur at much younger ages.