Alcoholism in a family has usually devastating effects on the children. Because alcoholism is often long term and a brain-related illness, it is often difficult for the alcohol abuser to stop abusing. The family usually takes on unhealthy roles in relating to the alcoholic, and the children suffer from stress, sometimes violence and neglect--and they almost always sustain some form of emotional or mental harm.
Definition
The Center on Addiction and the Family (COA/COSA) defines a child of alcoholics as someone whose parent or parental caregiver uses alcohol or other drugs in such a way that it causes difficulties in her life. COA/COSA emphasizes that a child can continue to feel the impact of the abuse even when no longer living with the substance abuser or when the parent is no longer alcoholic.
The Non-Alcoholic Parent
There is an indirect impact of alcohol abuse on children that has received little attention. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry stresses that children growing up in a home with one parent abusing alcohol suffer under the dysfunctional behavior of the non-alcoholic parent. The non-alcoholic parent is often absorbed in her struggles with living with the alcoholic spouse, which sometimes leads to neglect of children, depression that impacts the children and other forms of destructive behavior.
Health Impacts
Alcohol abuse can have an impact on fetus development, with children having higher rates of brain damage and other physical injury. A study in the journal "Alcohol" shows lower body weight found among babies whose father abused alcohol, backed by study on animals. Children of alcoholic parents are at increased risk of violence and neglect in the home.
Stress
COA/COSA notes that these children must constantly battle with hiding the dysfunction, as by isolating themselves from their friends or lying to cover up inappropriate or embarrassing behavior among parents. Over time, alcoholism in the family often results in depression, anxiety and later sometimes eating disorders or other mental health problems. COA/COSA notes these children are six times more likely to witness spousal abuse than are other children, which can lead to severe emotional and mental stress.
Treatment
Like any disease, if alcoholism is not treated it will likely continue. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends therapy in which all family members are included, as alcoholism has an affect on all members. A major component of any therapy for children of alcoholic parents is to address the effects, such as the guilt most such children carry for the situation, depression, anger, isolation and embarrassment.
References
- Center on Addiction and the Family: Effects on Parental Substance Abuse on Children and Families
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Children of Alcoholics
- "Alcohol"; A surprising effect of paternal alcohol treatment on rat fetuses; Ernest Abel; January 1995
