Facts About Alcoholism:
Living with an Addicted Parent
Children of Alcoholics - Facts about Alcoholism
Children living in households with an alcoholic parent that is may have life-long emotional scars and are hindered by the ability to grow in developmentally healthy ways. These children may go through life with an array of problems, including a poor self-image, decision-making issues, and challenges developing and sustaining relationships.
They typically experience high levels of stress and conflict, and may have deep-rooted feelings of guilt. Loneliness and a fear abandonment are common, as is major depression. Having different experiences as compared to children raised with non-alcoholic parents, children and youth have trouble academically -- and score less on measures of family cohesion, intellectual and cultural orientation, recreational engagement and independence. Here are some facts about alcoholism related to children who are raised by an alcoholic parent. - 76 million Americans have been exposed to alcoholism in their families.
- Nearly 20 percent of adults lived with an alcoholic when they were growing up.
- More than 10 percent of adult drinkers are alcoholics.
- There are nearly 27 million children of alcoholics living in the U.S. Research indicates that eleven million of them are below the age of 18.
- The cost of alcoholism’s impact on society is estimated at more than $166 billion dollars annually.
Providing effective assistance for children of alcoholics can be challenging and complex. The entire family must be engaged in the treatment process to achieve an optimal outcome.A variety of strategies may be deployed that include group family therapy, individualized counseling, medication and support group participation.
Sources: (1) National Clearinghouse for Alcohol Abuse and Addiction, (2) Alcohol, William Dudley, 2001 - Greenhaven Press, Inc., San Diego, California, pg 110.
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