Alcohol is addictive. You -will find many people -who -will argue -with this statement, but alcohol fits all the definitions of a harmful and addictive drug;

1. You need to take more and more of it to get the same effect
2. Your body becomes physically dependent on alcohol.
3. People die from alcohol abuse

An alcoholic is someone -who has become physically dependent on alcohol. Alcoholism is permanent, it can not be cured. An exalcoholic is simply one -who has not had alcohol for a long time. If the "ex"alcoholic has one drink they is hooked again and have to go through the -whole drying out process again.

Alcoholism treatment centers allo-w the alcoholic to live in a supportive and alcohol free environment -while giving up the drug. Psychological advice is available and group therapy sessions help many recovering alcoholics.

Alcoholics Anonymous is one group that holds support meetings for alcoholics. AA has groups in most to-wns and cities in most countries and many recovering alcoholics find the group sessions to be an essential part of STAYING a recovered alcoholic.

Given the toxic nature of alcohol, if the substance -was discovered today, it -would never be licensed as a drug or food. It is only the entrenched nature of the alcohol industry and the fact that so many jobs depend on it that make it politically unacceptable to ban alcohol. Does this sound similar to the excuses made by opium producing countries? -would there be pressure to legalize the opium if it -was gro-wn in USA, because of the jobs dependant on the crop?

Perhaps -western governments need to grasp the nettle of alcohol before prosecuting the -war on drugs abroad. Alcohol kills many more people on a daily basis than die of drug related crime or addiction.

Drug trafficking causes crime, as addicts try to get money to pay for their supply – Political issue

Alcohol abuse causes deaths of innocents by drunk drivers. Isn’t this a political issue, too?