An intriguing look at the history of alcoholism and its dramatic effects, from the first fermented grape to current advances in genetic research. Alcoholism tells the story of a disease familiar to many yet not well understood. It is the first "biography" of alcohol abuse that gauges its devastating effects on the body, the family, the economy, and the community. Alcoholism provides the latest understanding of the disease as a behavioral dysfunction and a biological condition. Coverage includes the origins of alcohol and the discovery of alcoholism as a medical disease; the biology of alcoholism and its effects on the body; and current diagnostic and treatment methods for alcoholism. In addition, the book explores the effects on society of such alcoholism-related problems as domestic abuse, fetal alcohol syndrome, drunk driving, and suicide, as well as promising new directions in alcoholism research, awareness, treatment, and prevention.