Family Alcohol Abuse Case Study

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) has a major national health impact in the United States, affecting over 17 million people, causing more than 100,000 deaths and costing over $200 billion annually (Bouchery et al., 2011; Grant et al., 2004; Hardwood, 2000). Alcohol use and abuse is currently the third leading risk factor for premature death and composed of nearly 4% of all deaths worldwide (World Health Organizations). Despite a large amount of effort focusing on the development of new medications for AUD, currently there are only 3-FDA approved treatments on the market, all of which have only yielded limited success even when combined with psychosocial support (Harris et al., 2010; Litten e al., 2012). This is evident by the high rates of uncontrolled heavy drinking that continue to persist and the high relapse rate in patients even after long-term inpatient treatment and support (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). As such, novel approaches that allow for rapid development of new and effective medication to treat and/or prevent AUD is an important public health goal (Bouchery et al., 2011; Heilig and Egli, 2006; Johnson, 2010; Johnson et al., 2007; Steensland et al., 2007).

In the drama film, “Under the Influence” the director Thomas Carter and writer Joyce Bebeta-Burdett create a family view regarding alcoholism and its effects on the children. Andy Griffith represents the father, Noah Talbot who has been a long time alcoholic. His wife Helen who is depicted by Joyce Van Patten becomes his enabler and codependent whose continued use of denial is a characteristic of ACOAs (235), she refuses to acknowledge his problem and continues to present the family as respectable members of their town. When Noah has an attach during the Sunday services the family must come to the realization that not only is he an alcoholic, but that because he has been one for so long that he may not be with them much longer.

Per reporter, Casey has custody of Sydni and Caiden. He doesn't want the children so they live with the mother. Casey is a severe drug addict and alcoholic. He has been and so are his parents. Blaynehas a different father. Autumn has a diagnosis of being bipolar and she will not take her medicine. She has no insurance to afford the medicine but when she had insurance she still didn't take it. The children have been harmed and hurt. Caiden has told another child there are hard drugs such as meth in the home. Caiden says he keeps walking in on his mother and Kevin with glass pipes. Reporter does believe drugs are being used around the children. It is unknown if drugs are being sold or manufactured out of the home or if they are accessible to

In reading chapters four and five of the textbook “Substance Abuse and the Family” I found a couple of things that caught my interest. In chapter four, the middle phrase of an alcoholic family is discussed on page 58, regulatory behaviors of the family enabling whatever use of alcohol is occurring hiding and maintaining for others not to see the alcoholism. The children are usually pressured not to talk about the situation at school, work, etc. I have seen parents threaten their children if they were to tell, saying things like “ if you tell they will take us away from you forever and it will be your fault” or “ if you tell punishment will be sure to follow”. Therefore, the family must endure the negative impacts of an alcoholic parent falling

Growing up with an alcoholic parent or parents can be a very difficult thing and mentally tiring. Day to day activities can be more of a challenge and feel like an impossible struggle due to constant worry, doubt or fear. They may grow up without proper care, love or encouragement to learn and succeed. A few of the things that can interfere with the child with an alcoholic parent includes school life, social interactions and at home. A child who is forced to grow up from birth around alcoholism has a higher chance of becoming an alcoholic themselves.

A person, especially a parent, who is dependent on alcohol or drugs destroys a family because family members not only see how miserable the addicted really are, but they also witness, firsthand, the way substance abuse can deteriorate a person’s physical and mental body, as well as the fact that family members notice the money that is spent on the abused substances, which sometimes leaves families living in poverty for no reason other than the simple fact the addict has to have their fix. Addicts are the destroyers of happiness, self-worth, and any amount of money.

While the alcoholic must detox and work through their problems, family counseling is a necessity during treatment. Over time, alcoholism has a strong impact on the family and friends of the alcoholics. From the genetic component of addiction to relationship quality, family members are intensely involved in the addiction.

Alcohol Use Disorder, most commonly known as Alcohol Abuse or Alcohol Dependence, is widely known as problem that occurs with individuals who consumes an enormous amount of alcohol on a regular basis often in a single use. The individual is consumed with the thought of drinking most of the time and often feel as though they need it to continue with living their daily lives, even though, they are not really living at all because the enormous amount of alcohol causes a dysfunction for their daily tasks. It inhibits their ability to take care of their family, have social relationships and performing activities at work. It is believed that genetics can play a massive role towards an individual developing an Alcohol Use Disorder.

Many people across the world suffer from alcoholism, a family disease. It is called a family disease because the addiction harms the alcoholic, and everyone who has to live with them. Children consistently suffer when they share a house with an alcoholic. Unfortunately, alcoholism is common and many children find themselves in this situation. The emotional and psychological scars that children can develop in alcoholic homes can be so deep that they can last well into adulthood. Youth who grew up in an alcoholic home can develop similar personality traits and characteristics. Approximately 26.8 million children are exposed to alcoholism in the family and 6.6 million children 18 and younger live in households with at least one alcoholic

Substance abuse, the abuse of drugs or alcohol, is known to have a lasting impact on members of the abuser’s family (Crosson-Tower, 2013). Ultimately there are two ways in which a family can experience the detrimental effects of substance abuse within the family system itself, and those ways are through either substance abuse on the parent’s behalf or substance abuse by the adolescents or children in the family unit (Crosson-Tower, 2013). Substance abuse can have many negative impacts on a family unit; the negative impacts are known to be emotionally, physically, and mentally damaging (Gruber & Taylor, 2006).

Distinguish symptoms of alcohol-related substance use disorders and summarize the economic, personal, and societal cost of alcoholism in the United States.

It was a calamitous knock, a knock that brought with it the worst of news that commenced a series of devastating events to follow for years to come. This knock arrived at our door at 5:00 a.m. one morning and it was my brother, Andrew. He refused to reveal the contents of his night, but in his insensible stupor he incessantly demanded for our help in finding his lost car, keys, phone, and wallet. After hours of much endeavor from each family member, Andrew’s car was discovered in a ditch with a blown out tire, his keys in another city miles away from the crash scene, and his wallet and phone were never recovered. My brother’s desperate knock and our cautious opening of the door revealed that Andrew’s misfortunes of that night had derived from the abuse of methamphetamine. This event remains in my mind as the initial incident that began our continuous familial struggle over the past five years.

Great job on the paper! The first connection I made between my population (the mentally disabled) and substance abusers is the role that family can potentially have. In some of the worst cases, a mentally disabled person or a person with a substance disorder may have no one to turn to but family. Both may rely on their family to provide for them as they struggle with their disability or addiction. Furthermore, both those with substance disorders and mental disabilities may have different social patterns than those who have neither. Just like y'all mentioned, a substance abuser may become withdrawn or only be able to hang out with other substance abusers and perhaps a few other close family members and friends,

Substance abuse remains a large problem in the United States (US). According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), substance abuse continues to take a large toll on individuals, families, and communities nationwide. In 2005, an estimated 22 million people were struggling with drug and alcohol abuse in the US. Substance abuse disrupts families, impacts work and school productivity, causes financial problems, and is related to domestic violence, child abuse, and crime (USDHHS, 2015).

The negative effect of alcohol have been well documented and scientifically proven. The United States National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that “1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries.” furthermore “599,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 receive unintentional injuries while under the influence of alcohol.” These statistics show just how easy it is for young drinkers to abuse alcohol. Many young drinkers are aware of such statistics. Despite that they continue to consume alcohol. Perhaps we’ll never be able to completely eliminate drinking from our society, historically there have been attempts to ban alcohol in many countries, none of them