Effects Of Parental Alcoholism On Children Essay

, Research Paper

The Effects of Parental Alcoholism on Children

Until rather recently, the impact of alcoholism was

measured by its effect on the alcoholic, by days lost from

work and highway fatalities. New research, however, has

tended to concentrate on the impact of alcoholism on the

family, especially the children of alcoholics. Numerous

studies have reported on the familial transmission of

alcoholism. It has been shown that alcoholics have more

biological relatives with an alcohol problem than do

nonalcoholic. Furthermore, these people have a higher

probability for developing alcoholism earlier in their

lives; and experiencing more severe effects of alcoholism

(Jones-Saumty p.783).

There are in the vicinity of twenty million children

under eighteen years of age whom are growing up in

households where one or both parents are alcoholic, in the

United States alone. These children are the unwilling

victims of a disease which generally is the center of their

childhood existence, and therefore shapes their personality

and behavior as adults. ?Because of the familial nature of

alcoholism children have been identified to be of high risk

for developing this illness? (Merikangas p.199). Unless

something is done to break the patterns initiated during

childhood, a significant percentage, (between 50%-60%), of

those who don?t become alcoholics themselves will marry an

alcoholic upon reaching maturity, thereby continuing the

cycle of abuse and depression. ?Studies of the development

of drinking behavior recognize the formation of socially

appropriate rules about the use of alcohol and the role of

the parent behaviors and attitudes in determining drinking

patterns? (Wilks & Callan p.326). In addition, ?Clustering

of depression, alcoholism and antisocial personality within

families has been frequently observed? (Merikangas p.199).

Alcoholism is a disease of denial, that is, those suffering

from it often refuse to admit they are affected by it.

Alcoholics with a long history of family alcoholism have

more sever symptoms and more social problems, versus those

families without a history of family alcoholism. Parents in

such a situation tend to insist to their children that their

alcoholic symptoms are neither serious nor permanent in

nature. Many alcoholics authentically believe that their

alcoholism is hidden. This is further complicated by the

fact ? that problem drinking is in part a function of the

definition of oneself as deficient and the concept of

alcohol as useful for altering the definition of oneself?

(Cutter & O?Farrell p.321).

Consequently, the children of alcoholic parents are

confronted with various dilemmas. First, the child sees his

parent[s] drinking in excess, while simultaneously denying

the fact. Second, the child further observes the

personality of his parent[s] significantly alter after the

alcohol has taken effect, confusing the child to greater

extent, (i.e. which is my ?real? dad?- from the child?s

point of view). In order to cope with the family situation,

the child of an alcoholic parent generally learns to go

along with the ?conspiracy? of denial and silence.

Although, generally the pattern of secrecy which permits

this to occur ultimately has affect on the child?s future

life.

Unfortunately, the impact on children from families

with an alcoholic parent is both enduring and direct. For

instance, these children tend to drop out of school

voluntarily in large numbers than any other group of

children thus far studied in this correlation, (i.e.,

duration of voluntary schooling). This has been especially

the situation with affected male children of alcoholic

parents. ?It has been reported that family history positive

men with alcoholism have had significantly more suspensions

from school, poorer academic and social performance in