The long-term effects include a higher risk of lifelong alcohol dependency than more temperate peers.

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Some 22 million Americans struggle with drug or alcohol dependency, but only 3 million have sought formal treatment.

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Speaking about the programme at the time, Prime Minister David Cameron referred to 120, 000 families who were plagued by drug addiction, alcohol dependency and crime.

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And he makes an important distinction between hangovers and withdrawal symptoms - shaking, sweating, nausea and anxiety - all of which can be signs of an alcohol dependency.

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The social costs of family breakdown, welfare dependency, educational failure, crime, anti-social behaviour, drug and alcohol addiction are impossible to calculate.

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