Alcohol abuse and dependence has many detrimental effects not only on the alcoholic himself but on his family. While he may hide his drinking from the outside world, at home there are no secrets. Families are often too ashamed or too afraid to come forward and confront the alcoholic, or to seek outside help. Alcoholism of one family member can have both immediate and long term effects on the rest of the family.
Spousal Abuse
Alcohol use is strongly associated with spousal abuse, most often of women by their husbands. According to a publication by the Hazelden foundation, alcohol was involved in both verbal and physical abuse of women by their husbands. One study showed that alcohol consumption was involved in forty percent of cases of severe physical violence, of husbands towards their wives. In another study they cite, half the women who were intentionally injured stated that their husband had been drinking immediately prior to the attack. Domestic violence can lead to serious physical injuries, long-term psychological effects, and in some cases, can even lead to death.
Effect on the Children
Children may suffer neglect or abuse at the hands of an alcoholic parent. In addition, a child may suffer from depression, poor performance at school and social isolation. According to American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, children exhibit certain patterns of distress due to having an alcoholic parent. Warning signs include truancy, risk taking behaviors and repeated complaints about stomach-aches and headaches. Some children attempt to over-compensate and take care of their own parent. They might be overachievers at school, but are often socially withdrawn. Shame and guilt are common emotions.
Long Term Effects
Psychological problems often show up years later, when the child of an alcoholic becomes an adult. Childhood neglect and abuse may result in lifelong depression. Poor parenting, abuse and neglect contribute to the development of Borderline Personality Disorder. Children may become alcoholics themselves--the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry states that family members of alcoholics are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than other children. Patterns of violence learned in childhood are often reenacted in adulthood--this time, as the perpetrator of violence, against his own spouse and children.
References
- Hazelden.org: Research Update--Alcohol Use and Domestic Violence
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Children of Alcoholics
- "Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry"; Virginia Sadock and Pedro Ruiz (eds.); 2009
