As the result of being raised in a home where one or both parents were addicted, children of alcoholics generally have certain common characteristics that continue to affect them as adults.

Alcoholism results from a dependence on or an addiction to alcohol. It's a chronic, progressive, and sometimes fatal disease. The reason why one person develops alcoholism and another doesn't has been the subject of much study.

Co-dependency is defined by a group of symptoms that typically occur in those who live with a chemically-dependent person. These symptoms usually include the assumption of care-taking responsibilities, denial of feelings, perfectionism, fear, and dishonesty.

Drinking and driving can be a deadly combination. According to the National Council on Alcoholism, it's estimated that two out of five Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related accident at some time during their lives.

Alcoholism often victimizes more than just the abuser. Family members of alcoholics are sometimes subjected to unnecessary mental and physical abuse.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, or FAS (F-A-S), is the name given to a group of physical and mental birth defects that are caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

It's important to keep in mind that many alcoholics don't realize their drinking has gotten out of control. In many cases, it's the objective voice of a friend or family member that brings the problem to the alcoholic's attention.

Since alcoholism progresses slowly, family members are often unable to fully recognize the severity of the situation. They become used to living in an alcoholic's household, and tend to lose sight of what constitutes a healthy family environment.

Living with an alcoholic can be extremely difficult, and can affect the entire family. In the beginning, denial often occurs, taking the form of excuses to bosses, colleagues, or friends about the alcoholic's behavior.

You might think of a problem drinker as someone who can't live without alcohol, who's often drunk, or who drinks every day. Actually, a person's drinking can become a problem without obvious outward signs.

Alcoholism is a disease in which the affected individual is addicted to alcohol. According to the National Council on Alcoholism, it's estimated that twelve million Americans are alcoholics, and they may exhibit a wide variety of symptoms.

In recent years, alcohol use among young people has been recognized as a significant health problem. Teenagers appear to be consuming more alcohol, more frequently than ever before.

It's widely accepted that an alcoholic is on the road to recovery only when the existence of a drinking problem is admitted. However, the next few days after an alcoholic admits the problem are generally the most crucial.

Alcoholics Anonymous, or A. A. (A-A), is a worldwide fellowship of recovering alcoholics who work to help keep each other sober. They offer the same help to anyone who has a drinking problem, and wants to do something about it.

Al-anon is a spin-off of Alcoholics Anonymous, which was begun in 1951. The Al-Anon family groups are a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share experiences, strength, and hope in order to solve their common problems.

Although alcohol is often thought of as a stimulant, it's actually a depressant, containing ethanol (ETH-eh-nall), which is a mood-altering drug. Even a small amount of alcohol will generally relax your body, causing you to become less inhibited, and in some cases, more friendly and outgoing.