Originally Posted by
afla 
I have some questions. Have there been many stories of friends/family supporting alcoholics, them recovering and the issue being permanantly resolved?
Welcome, afla. There may be a few of these stories...you'll have to read through many threads to find them. However, I caution you to not use the word "permanently", because alcoholism is a life long condition. It requires not only abstaining from alcohol, but changing one's coping skills and perspectives to live a healthy life and have successful intimate relationships. This is pretty huge for most folks.
Maybe start by reading
Under the Influence, a great book about how alcohol affects the brain and body. You can find excerpts here at SR, too.
Knowledge is empowering, so spend some time really understanding what your boyfriend is going through, and the implications of it on your life and future plans.
Good luck, and keep coming back!
~T