Nearly half of all Americans over 12 consume alcohol. Alcohol is the leading cause of death among Americans ages 15-24. Alcohol is highly addictive, and withdrawal can potentially be fatal. Long term effects of alcoholism include fatty liver, high blood pressure, increased risk of heart disease, and brain damage. Alcoholism is considered a lifelong disease because there is no way to turn an addicted user into a social drinker.

1. ALCOHOL ADDICTION
N E A R L Y H A L F O F A L L A M E R I C A N S O V E R T H E A G E O F 1 2
C O N S U M E A L C O H O L .
T H E L E A D I N G C A U S E O F D E A T H O F A M E R I C A N ’ S B E T W E E N
T H E A G E S O F 1 5 - 2 4 A R E A L C O H O L R E L A T E D .
A L C O H O L I S S O A D D I C T I V E T H A T Y O U C A N D I E F R O M
W I T H D R A W A L S .
M O R E M I N O R W I T H D R A W A L S I N C L U D E - H E A D A C H E ,
T R E M B L I N G , N A U S E A , A N X I E T Y, E X C E S S I V E S W E A T I N G , A N D
L O S S O F A P P E T I T E
T H E R E I S N O K N O W N W A Y O F T U R N I N G A N A D D I C T E D
A L C O H O L U S E R I N T O A S O C I A L D R I N K E R W H I C H I S W H Y I T
I S C O N S I D E R E D A L I F E L O N G D I S E A S E .

2. Social Consequences
Struggle with
unemployment
More likely to get
divorced
More likely to be
involved in domestic
violence
More likely to live in
poverty
Physical
Consquences
Fatty degeneration of
the liver
High blood pressure
High risk for heart
disease
The brain is also
effected by long term
alcohol abuse
LONG TERM EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL