It can be tough for young addicts to get involved in 12 step groups full of older folks. But if they do find a 12 step group where they can really engage, success rates are high.

Excessive drinking has been linked to chronic pancreatitis, but only a fraction of alcoholics get the disease. A gene mutation can identify men who are at highest risk.

Why do people drink when they’re stressed? And why do some people stop after a drink or two and others let things turn into problem drinking?

It's clear that heavy drinking while pregnant can harm a baby. But research has been less clear about whether only a few drinks makes a difference. Until now.

Yes, there are genes involved with alcoholism, but starting to abuse alcohol with friends at an early age may be the real problem. Good habits - and bad ones - start early.

College is supposed to be a safe place to learn, but it can also be a place to learn bad habits. Using alcohol to cope with bad feelings during college can carry over into adult life. A recent study’s findings showed a 17 percent increase in bad alcohol-related behavior.

Pre-partying is common among youths before they head to the bar. But it can lead to double the alcohol consumption before anyone realizes they’ve had too much.

Being bullied at school, which is supposed to be a safe place, can spark the need to cope. Some teens are turning to alcohol after bullying incidents. Researchers say this is not a good mix.

Most women know they are advised not to drink during pregnancy. They may not realize how much drinking while pregnant can deeply affect children's brains even years later.

Brain volumes are smaller in people with alcohol dependence. The good news is that pretty quickly after putting down the bottle, the brain regrows some of that volume.