How Does Parental Drinking Contribute to Teen Alcoholism?
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Predisposition
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Teenagers will not turn into alcoholics just because their parents drink. There is a danger, however, that an alcoholic parent can genetically pass an alcoholic predisposition to his offspring. Alcoholism is hereditary and does run in families, but it will exist whether parents drink or not. It just needs enough liquor to get it going.
Example
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If a teen already has an alcoholic predisposition, parents who openly and frequently drink may serve as examples that the teen may imitate. Teens may see their parents' constant drinking and figure that is how every family is and how everyone lives. This may give teens the false impression that drinking to excess on a regular basis is not out of the ordinary. Teens may also witness drunken behaviors, such as rage, promiscuity, falling down, stumbling, slurring words and other such activities and view those as part of normal, everyday life.
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Availability
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Teens will find ways to get what they want, including alcohol, but parents who keep a large, unlocked supply in the home make it easier. Being around lots of liquor and seeing their parents imbibe may again send the message that being drunk is the only way to live. Teens who have alcohol readily available will have a much easier time testing to see if they are alcoholics and will have plenty of time and means with which to practice.
Occasional Drinkers
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Parents who drink occasionally or have a drink or two each day are less likely to contribute to a teen's alcoholism--as long as the parent also has a responsible attitude about drinking. In addition to providing a positive model for the teen to imitate, talking to the teen about the dangers of alcohol is another important factor. Teens who enjoy a close relationship with their parents and have been warned about the dangers of alcohol are less likely to start drinking at all, according to the online family resource center Focus Adolescent Services (see Resources).
Problem Drinking
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If a teen has no predisposition to alcoholism, he may still develop drinking problems, such as binge drinking, or engage in dangerous behaviors if his parents set a bad example with reckless drinking. These problems are also likely to emerge with parents who do not support, monitor or communicate with their children, says Focus Adolescent Services. The top three causes of death for those 15 to 24 years old are car wrecks, murder and suicide, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Department adds the leading factor in all three is alcohol.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Photo by Ryn Gargulinski
