The Effects of Alcohol Abuse on Families
When one or more adults in a family are addicted to alcohol, the entire family suffers. Because of this, alcohol is called a family disease. Not only do the familial relationships become dysfunctional, but also violence and financial insecurity often result. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 76 million American adults have been affected by alcoholism in their families.
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Spouse
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The spouse of an alcoholic has the most obvious problems created by the addiction. Violence, infidelity and divorce are common in relationships in which one partner is an alcoholic. According to G. Berger's "Alcoholism and the Family," 75 percent of cases of domestic violence involve a family member who is an alcoholic. In many instances, the sober parent has to take on additional parenting responsibilities because the alcoholic parent is unable to perform these duties.
Children
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Children of alcoholics may suffer even before they are born. If a mother drinks while carrying her baby, the child may have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Children of alcoholics often deal with low self-esteem, guilt and depression, among other issues. The children often feel responsible for the problems created by the alcohol. In very young children, these problems often manifest themselves in nightmares or bedwetting. Older children may be obsessive about perfection, hoard or be extremely self-conscious. Sexual abuse is often a symptom of alcoholism in the family. Again according to Berger, in nearly 30 percent of cases of father-daughter incest, alcohol is a factor.
Adult Children
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As adults, children of alcoholics continue to struggle with the problems created by the disease that infected their family. They often become alcoholics themselves or turn to other types of substance abuse if they don't receive treatment. They often have problems with relationships because the dynamics of their childhood family taught them not to trust other people. If they are able to form relationships, many adult children of alcoholics choose partners who are alcoholic or abusive in some way.
Economic
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Alcoholism also leads to money problems for the family. There may be job losses and poor financial decisions that put the family on shaky ground economically. The alcoholic family member may spend large amounts of the family's income on alcohol. Families dealing with alcoholism may not be able to afford many of the luxuries, and even some of the necessities, other families have available. In addition to these hits on finances, alcoholism often leads to legal fees, damages to the home or vehicles, health costs and lost work days.
Help
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While the alcoholic may seek help from programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, the entire family is in need of healing. Family and marriage counseling are the beginning of that healing. Al-Anon and Alateen are organizations designed to offer help to the families and children of alcoholics. These organizations state that they are for people who are troubled by someone else's drinking, for people who grew up with a problem drinker and for those whose lives have been affected by someone else's drinking. For more information about Al-Anon and Alateen, or to find a group meeting in your area, call 1-888-4AL-ANON or visit the organization's website.
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- Photo Credit Ralf Roletschek: wikipedia.org
