Alcohol and Family Problems
Alcohol and family problems go hand in hand. Alcohol addiction (alcohol substance use disorder) is deemed the most common form of addiction. It is a number one health problem with its destructive effects spreading beyond the addicted
individual to include not only the larger society but also
family members including
the youngest of children.
Children whose parents suffer from a substance use disorder (SUD), including an alcohol use disorder (AUD) are children at risk. The stressors within the family that intersect with AUDs, and other SUDs in a parent create risks for children growing up in these families. These include risks, when compared to children whose parents who do not suffer from a SUD, for developing a range of cognitive, psychosocial, learning, behavioral and emotional concerns. They may show increased risk for developing various disorders such as anxiety and/or depression, antisocial personality disorders and relationship difficulties. Children with parents who suffer from an AUD are 4 times more likely to develop an AUD, than children who grow up in families where an AUD is not a problem.
These negative effects are not tied solely to AUDs, or other SUDs, but are also associated with various adverse childhood experiences that intersect with AUDs. There are also protective factors that can reduce or eliminate the risks these children might otherwise face. Not all of these children will show detrimental effects. Some will show resilience and healthy coping strategies to deal with the challenges and stressors in their lives.
Nevertheless, children of addicted parents, regardless of the substance disorder, are children at risk. They are more likely to develop Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) than children of non-addicted parents. They are also at risk, as noted above, for developing various other psychological mental-health concerns.
Great numbers of these children exist. One in eight children (8.7 million) in the United States under the age of seventeen lives with at least one parent who suffers from a SUD disorder. One in ten children (7.5 million) live in a household with at least one parent with an AUD. They are four times more likely than children who do not grow up in families where alcoholism is a problem to develop an AUD.
Hence, these children are at risk of perpetuating the inter-generational cycle of alcoholism in their own lives.
If alcohol and family problems, or a family member's addiction to other drugs are a concern in your family, it is important to intervene early and take preventative steps to help the children growing up in these often troubled families. Otherwise the psychological concerns they exhibit may escalate and become more difficult to reverse and deal with. Unless we help these children now, the psychological risks they face can follow them into adulthood.
It is essential that parents, caring adults and helping professionals focus on the plight of these children. They must develop an awareness of their issues and the strategies and skills to help them.
A Psychological Assessment Can Help When Alcohol and Family Problems Worry You.
A psychological assessment increases understanding of the psychological concerns that are at issue for a young person and how to help.
Learn how a young person is doing when a family member suffers from alcoholism, or other SUDs. Where are things going well? Where do you need to intervene to help? What kind of strategies can reduce the risks for these children?
Assess how a child is doing when alcohol and family problems affect your family. Use this information to develop strategies to help children of addicted parents and reduce the risks they face.
Dr. O'Connor is the author of "I Can Be Me-A Helping Book for Children from Troubled Families-with a special focus on children of addicted parents. I Can Be Me supports children from troubled families.
Dr. O'Connor is in the process of updating the fifth edition of I Can Be Me, to reflect the literature on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). This book includes a special focus on children of addicted parents. It also supports young people who are experiencing other adverse childhood experiences.
There are two versions of I Can Be Me - The Adult Version and The Children's Work Book. These two books work together to support
children of addicted parents. They can be purchased separately or
bundled together.
The adult guide assists therapists, parents and other caring adults in addressing this issue with children. There is also a Children's Work Book.
Both versions of I Can Be Me can be used individually with a child, or with a group of children in a support group setting.
THE ORDERING DETAILS BELOW HAVE NOT BEEN SET UP.
ORDER Dr. O’Connor’s book--I Can Be Me—and find help for children of addicted parents including children whose parents or other family members suffer from an Alcohol Use Disorder.
I CAN BE ME is a Helping Book for Children from Troubled Families-with a special focus on Children of Addicted Parents.
Click here, to learn more about this book and how it can help you to help young people when addiction is a problem in the family.
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