Alcohol kills multiple thousands of people a year. Drunk driving is an obvious example, but heart attacks, strokes, suicides, homicides, tragic accidents, and even some types of cancer can be directly attributed to alcoholism. Nowadays, alcoholism is acknowledged and treated with less of a stigma than in years past. Most medical plans cover treatment programs, and many employers will give alcoholics a second chance if they take advantage of such programs and demonstrate that they can stay on the straight and narrow. Rehabilitation programs and facilities are a big business. And in all likelihood, they will remain so, because as long as there are human beings inhabiting the planet, a certain percentage of them will abuse alcohol and other substances.