Alcohol can be addictive if consumed daily or in large quantities. Alcohol is technically defined as “a colorless, flammable liquid that possesses the active ingredient of intoxicating beverages” (HarperCollins Publishers 2009). One of the leading causes of death in the United States is alcohol-induced death. There are many types of alcohol produced and distributed throughout the country. Common alcoholic drinks sold regularly include vodka, beer, rum, wine, whiskey and more. Each type causes as much harm to the body as the other, although they differ in amounts or percentages of alcohol. It depends on a person's body type and how alcohol will affect them personally. Weight, height, family history, and gender are common factors associated with a person's blood alcohol level (HealthCheck Systems 2012). The risks of alcohol abuse are increasingly familiar to alcoholics across the country. Alcohol destroys the liver, which then becomes extremely vulnerable to cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded that more than 15,000 deaths were linked to liver disease resulting from alcohol abuse and more than 24,000 deaths were due to other generic alcohol-related deaths. . Alcohol is also known to increase blood pressure, which can lead to stroke or heart disease. Psychological dangers are severe cases of anxiety, depression or insomnia, linked to the inability to sleep. Alcohol abuse can cause the abuser to become malnourished due to a lack of healthy food or a lack of food at all. Overall, alcohol can harm your social life, physical health, career, and mental health. (HealthCheck Systems 2012) Alcoholism "shows signs of physical dependence on alcohol and continues...... middle of paper...... stricter alcohol consumption policies on college campuses across the country. The best-known group, Alcoholics Anonymous, was founded in 1935 by Wilson and Smith in Akron, Ohio. The goal was to treat users anonymously and allow them to confide and share their feelings with others in a similar situation or willing to help.Bower 4Reference citedhttp://doh.state.fl.us /chd/bay/Alcohol.htmlhttp:/ /www.alcoholalert.com/drunk-driving-statistics.htmlhttp://library.thinkquest.org/23713/frameset.htmlhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov /pubmedhealth/PMH0001940/http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh27-1/39-51.htmhttp://www.thefreedictionary.com/alcoholhttp://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications /alcohol/en/http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/alcohol.htmhttp://www.healthchecksystems.com/alcohol.htmhttp://alcoholism.about.com/library/blnaa39.htm