There are currently 18.5 million Americans that exhibit signs of alcoholism or dependence upon alcohol and alcohol related problems affect one in three families. This begs the question: Why is alcohol America’s drug of choice?

A recent study indicated that Americans are turning to alcohol to escape the stress they feel in their daily lives. There are bills to be paid, deadlines to meet and the growing economic crisis is putting added pressure on men and women as they see their retirement savings shrink and are threatened by layoffs around every turn. The vast majority of alcohol users are able to keep their drinking in check but for a small group, their drinking spirals out of control. For these men and women the pain they were trying to escape becomes exponentially worse as their addiction develops.

Alcohol addiction has also been linked to family history and some believe certain individuals have a genetic predisposition to have addiction issues. A person is considered an alcoholic when their drinking becomes unmanageable and/or it starts to interfere with their family, personal, professional or social life. If a person can’t control how much they drink, when they will stop or what the outcome of their drinking will be, it is time for them to reach out and seek help.

Alcoholism is a disease and as such it can be treated. Using a proactive approach to educating the public on the early signs of problematic drinking is a vital component of saving precious lives. Alcohol is a drug. It can be abused and it can take over one’s life in the blink of an eye. If you feel you have a drinking problem, there are many avenues and resources for support. If someone else’s addiction is affecting you, there are support groups for you as well. Know that you don’t have to fight the battle alone, and know that you can win!