Alcoholism is characterized by excessive drinking despite the disruptions caused in life at work, home or socially. Medical diagnosis includes the presence of physiological problems such as tremors and blackouts, obsessions about using alcohol, and behavior problems, according to AllPsych Online. Alcoholism impacts the individual struggling with drinking as well as those closest to him. On a macro level, alcoholism also significantly impacts society and the health care system.
Children of Alcoholics
The National Association for Children of Alcoholics estimates that 26 million American children under the age of 18 live in homes directly affected by alcoholism. Children of alcoholics tend to become confused about what role they play in the family.
The University of Illinois Counseling Center denotes four roles a child may take on in the alcoholic home. The hero is the child who tries to maintain peace in the chaotic household while upholding the appearance of a normal family to outsiders. The adjuster tries to avoid conflict by remaining invisible to family members. The placater takes responsibility for calming family distress while also neglecting her own needs for comfort. The scapegoat is a disruptor in the family and creates distress through displays of constant anger. The effects on the child living in an alcoholic home can result in a higher likelihood for the child to become an alcoholic, engage in violence or disruptive behavior and develop mental health disturbances.
Spouses of Alcoholics
A 2006 study reported in "Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research" concluded that alcohol consumption patterns and alcohol-related problems are linked to spousal abuse. Overall, the perpetrators of spousal abuse were reportedly drinking alcohol more times than not during incidences of violence. The National Association for Children of Alcoholics further notes that separated or divorced spouses are three times more likely as married spouses to report problem drinking or alcoholism as a negative factor in the marriage. When a member has an alcohol problem, the family system as a whole is impaired in the areas of communication, conflict management and coping skills. In homes with one alcoholic parent, the sober parent often has to perform the roles of both parents. Inconsistency with supporting the sober spouse as well as neglect of children in the home is an unfortunate consequence of alcoholism on the family.
Society and the Economy
Crime and violence are associated with alcoholism in society. According to the National Association for Children of Alcoholics, alcohol is associated with a significant portion of violence in society. A large percentage in convictions of manslaughter, murder and assault as well as robberies and burglaries are perpetrated by alcohol influenced acts. Economically speaking, DrugAddictionSupport.org notes that the total cost to society for law enforcement and incarceration of individuals influenced by alcohol or other drugs exceeds billions of dollars per year.
Health Care System
The Marin Institute explains that between 25 and 40 percent of patients admitted for hospital care in the United States are being treated for alcohol-related health complications. Heavy drinkers have a significantly higher health care cost than moderate or non-drinkers with a total of over $175 billion a year spent on conditions related to alcoholism. Untreated alcoholism also impacts the health care system significantly by billions of dollars per year and is a factor in causing more than 100,000 deaths per year.
References
- National Association for Children of Alcoholics: Children of Alcoholics Important Facts
- AllPsych: Alcoholism and Its Effect on the Family
- University of Illinois Counseling Center: Adult Children of Alcoholics
- Marin Institute: Health Care Costs of Alcohol
- "Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research": Spouse Abuse and Alcohol Problems Among White, African American and Hispanic U.S. Army Soldiers, 2006
