Alcohol is considered a misused drug by many people. It is important that this issue be addressed because many people are unaware of the long-term effects of alcohol on the body and mind. Many people know that drugs and tobacco have very negative effects on your body, but it seems that few people know the effects of alcohol until it completely changes an aspect of your life. Since few people know the full effects of alcohol, it is crucial that the facts and statistics about it are known. For the majority of people, alcohol is seen as an easy way to unwind after a long day. However, it can become very addictive and people may start consuming too much for a short period of time. Once this happens, the person should realize that they have a problem and should either try to stop or seek help from someone else. Alcohol use becomes a problem when the adult begins to drink more than he or she can handle; they then have difficulty controlling their own actions. The average amount an adult man should drink is two beers, while women and older adults should stick to just one. Some people get to the point where they are considered dependent on alcohol. This means that a person is unable to stop drinking once they have already started. If people who are addicted to alcohol suddenly stop drinking, they suffer withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms may include nausea, sweating, irritability, tremors and hallucinations. At any given time, 1 in 13 American adults are considered alcoholics. Alcohol problems occur primarily among young Americans; approximately five million people, aged 12 to 20, participate in excessive alcohol consumption; this includes...... middle of paper ......r. 2014."Signs, Symptoms and Effects of Alcohol Dependence." Alcoholism. Timberline Knolls, nd Web. March 20, 2014..Covelli, Grace. “Social Effects of Alcohol.” EComment. Demand Media, April 15, 2009. Web. March 20, 2014. “Alcohol Poisoning Facts.” Facts about alcohol poisoning. College Drinking, July 11, 2007. Web. March 20, 2014. “Alcoholism and alcohol abuse.” : Signs, symptoms and help for alcoholism and drinking problems. Help Guide, nd Web. March 18. 2014..