In Canada and the United States, nearly 100,000 deaths every year are attributed to alcohol abuse.  Alcohol is the most commonly abused drug among children that are 12 to 17 years old. 

The leading cause of death among teenagers is motor vehicle accidents that are alcohol related.  People who abuse alcohol are more likely to:• engage in high-risk sexual behavior
• experiment with other illegal substances
• have poor grades in school or poor performance on the job
• use tobacco products

The following organs/parts of the body can be damaged from prolonged alcohol abuse:

• brain
• heart
• liver
• nervous system

Additonally, there is a greater risk of high blood pressure and stroke among people who abuse alcohol.  Cancer, osteoporosis, sexual problems, and stomach problems can also result.  Additionally, alcohol abuse has the tendency to result in the following social issues as well:

• automobile accidents
• difficulties at home and at work
• jail and/or prison time
• social isolation
• violent behavior

Symptoms of substance abuse include:

• blackouts / periods of forgetfulness
• denial of a problem
• drinking increasingly larger quantities to achieve the same effect
• noticeable personality changes

Warning signs of an alcohol addiction problem also include:

• drinking alone
• drinking early in the morning
• gulping or sneaking drinks
• suffering from the shakes

Problems can exist, with classmates in school, with co-workers on the job, with family members at home, and there is also the possibility of run-ins with the law because of drinking and driving.

Other characteristics of the alcohol abuser involve getting drunk everyday, or getting drunk on the weekends.  There is a greater frequency of calling in sick at work on Mondays and Fridays, as well as long periods of sobriety followed by binges that can last weeks or even months.  Without outside help, it is very difficult to curtail alcohol abuse.