The Effect of Alcoholism on a Child

The American Psychiatric Association gives criteria for alcoholism like frequent blackouts, obsessing over drinking, and behavioral problems that disrupt home and work life. Considering these problems, it's easy to see why alcoholism is widely known as a family disease. Alcoholism often has severe effects on the children in the family.

Physical Effects

The best known physical effect of a parent's alcoholism on a child is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which occurs when a pregnant woman consumes alcohol. The alcohol travels through the placenta, and the blood alcohol content of the fetus is the same as the mother's. The physical effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome include shortness, low birth weight, brain and skull deformities, and damaged central nervous systems. Babies born with severe Fetal Alcohol Syndrome may not be able to function normally as a result of these physical problems. Unfortunately, the defects that Fetal Alcohol Syndrome causes are permanent.

Abuse in the home--including sexual and physical abuse--is more likely to occur when the parent is an alcoholic. Children may have bruises or abrasions as a result of this abuse.

Effects on School Work

Children of alcoholics notoriously have a hard time at school. If the child was born with even mild Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, he may have a learning disability or behavioral problems that can negatively affect his performance at school. Children may also have a very stressful home life as a result of the parent's alcoholism, which may cut study time short and take the focus off of school performance.

Emotional Effects

Children of alcoholics often feel that they need to act as a parent figure, and they may try to cure the parent of alcoholism. When they can't, they may experience feelings of guilt or anger. Anger is often the most common way alcoholics express emotion. Children may also feel they must walk on eggshells or even suppress their feelings in order to avoid angry outbursts from their parents.

Children may be embarrassed of their alcoholic parent's problem, and avoid inviting friends over. They may lose friends and have trouble forming relationships.
Because of the very adult emotions and situations children of alcoholics have to deal with on a daily basis, they may be confused about who they are or how to behave. Children of alcoholics are very susceptible to depression.

Future Problems

According to the U.S. Government survey, "Exposure to Alcoholism in the Family," 30% of young women who dropped out of high school grew up with an alcoholic parent. Young men who grew up with an alcoholic parent were 20% more likely to drop out.

Children may also accept that their parent uses alcohol to deal with their feelings, and adopt this behavior, becoming alcoholics themselves. Even if the alcoholic parent stops using alcohol and reforms, the child may carry her emotional, physical and behavioral problems with her for the rest of her life.

Prevention/Solution

The best way for a child of an alcoholic parent to deal with problems and avoid becoming an alcoholic is to get counseling. This may come in the form of private or group counseling, or from joining organizations like Children of Alcoholics, Alcoholics Anonymous or Alateen. These organizations provide supportive care and inspirational meetings.