Alcohol abuse not only has detrimental effects on physical and mental health, it can also become so severe that it gets in the way of daily functioning. For parents of children who still live at home, the effects of alcohol abuse are twofold. Their alcohol abuse is no longer just a hindrance for themselves, but for their children who depend on them for emotional support and guidance.
Statistics
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), in 2002 almost five million adults who had at least one child under age 18 at home were alcohol-abusing or alcohol-dependent. Of these parents, 62 percent were fathers, 38 percent were mothers, and 69 percent were married. Combined, these parents accounted for 28 percent of all adults that year who abused or were dependent upon alcohol.
Effects on Children
In the NSDUH, parents who abused or were dependent upon alcohol were more likely to report that people in their household insulted, yelled at each other and had serious arguments than parents who weren't abusing or dependent upon alcohol. In addition to being exposed to additional discord in the home, children of parents who abuse alcohol are likely to worry about their parent's physical health and their parent's ability to care for them. According to pediatric health website Dr. Spock, children respond to such insecurities in two common ways: by rebelling and embracing equally self-destructive behaviors, or by growing up prematurely to act as a surrogate caregiver for other family members.
Signs of Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol use turns into alcohol abuse when it begins to have noticeable negative consequences in a person's life. A person who has begun to abuse alcohol may notice decreased performance at work, a strain on family relationships, excessive expenditures on alcohol and legal issues such as being arrested for driving under the influence.
Signs of Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol abuse turns into alcohol addiction when a person begins to require more and more alcohol to achieve the same level of intoxication and when he begins to crave alcohol. His cravings may be so extreme that his mind is consistently focused on when he can have another drink. He may also exhibit withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, tremors and headaches, or even Delirium tremens (DTs), a state of severe confusion with visual hallucinations that can escalate to seizures and death.
Getting Help
Conquering alcohol abuse and addiction may seem like an endless struggle, particularly if children's lives have also been affected. However, asking for outside help is an effective first step in committing to positive change. Multiple medical and psychological treatments are available for people of all backgrounds and income levels. The sooner children see that their parents are willing to turn their lives around, the better chances they will have of growing up to make healthy choices for their own lives.
