Advances in the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence.

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Approximately 18 million adult Americans, who represent 8.5% of the population, suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence each year, with men affected slightly more frequently than women. Richard N. Rosenthal, M.D., noted that the prevalence of alcoholism is similar to rates of other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, depression, and asthma. Additionally, alcohol abuse and dependence are associated with more than 100,000 annual deaths and up to 40% of annual hospitalizations.