Alcohol Dependence (Alcoholism)

When To Call A Professional

Call your doctor whenever you or someone you love has an alcohol-related problem. Remember, alcoholism is an illness that can be treated, not a sign of weakness or poor character.

Prognosis

About 20% of alcoholics are able to abstain from alcohol permanently without the help of formal treatment or self-help programs such as AA. Of those patients who attend AA, 44% who remain abstinent for one year probably will remain abstinent for another year. This figure increases to 91% for those who have remained abstinent and attended AA for five years or more.

On average, an alcoholic who doesn't stop drinking can expect to decrease his or her life expectancy by at least 15 years.

Additional Info

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) 6000 Executive Blvd. Willco Building Bethesda, MD 20892-7003 http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Information (NCADI) P.O. Box 2345 Rockville, MD 20847-2345 Phone: (301) 468-2600 Toll-Free: (800) 729-6686 Fax: (301) 468-6433 TDD: (800) 487-4889 http://www.health.org/

Alcoholics Anonymous World Services 475 Riverside Dr. 11th Floor New York, NY 10115 Phone: (212) 870-3400 http://www.alcoholicsanonymous.net/

Al-Anon/Alateen Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. 1600 Corporate Landing Parkway Virginia Beach, VA 23454-5617 Toll-Free: (888) 425-2666 http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/