Physical Abuse And Neglect Of Children

Many alcoholics are so preoccupied with their addictions, that issues and activities that were once of interest to them, are no longer a concern. The alcoholic then becomes oblivious to his responsibilities for his or her children. Children of alcoholics often suffer from neglect. According to the Children of Alcoholics Foundation, each year “1.2 million children are confirmed by state agencies as being victims of child neglect. Forty percent of these cases involve alcohol or drugs. This suggests that an estimated

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

There are many approaches Children of Alcoholics may take to handle their stress. Some, sensing their family’s need for relief, provide humor, distraction, anything to attract attention. Ironically, the more attention this child receives the less of him or her anyone sees. Their clown mask sits permanently in place, until even they feel oblivious to their own pain.

Children with alcoholic parents suffer all kinds of abuse and it is often life threatening (20). Addiction is not something that begins and ends with one person, the impact addiction has is tremendous and devastating. "Addiction sends shock waves through an entire family unit" (Straussner 1). Over 27 million children live with an alcoholic parent. It is nearly impossible to find children from alcoholic homes who are completely unscathed (The Visitation Handbook for the Custodial Parent 167). Children who grow up with alcoholic parents are forced to mature and grow up much sooner than they ought. Over 22 million adults have come out and said they have lived with an alcohol parent when they were a child (Seixas and Youcha xi). Alcohol continues to be predominant in The United States, because it is a drug that works for the majority of people. Alcohol allows a person to temporarily escape from the problems they are suffering. Most people reap the consequences of previous actions daily and therefore turn to alcohol which allows them to temporarily escape reality. Alcohol may allow people to escape their reality for a time being, but it also creates a horrific reality for 27 million

Addiction is a disease that not only affects the person with the addiction but the family as well. The children that grow up in this environment take on different roles in their family to try and cope with their environment. According to American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, there is an estimate of 26.8 million children that are exposed to alcoholism in the family (2015). As these children grow up they develop many common characteristics into adulthood. These characteristics have a lasting impact on their lives.

Per Alati, Baker, Betts, Connor, Little, Sanson, and Olsson (2014), heavy parental alcohol consumption has played a role in early alcohol consumption of adolescents between twelve and fifteen years old. Mothers who drink heavily when their children are young also contribute to the development of an alcohol disorder in male adolescents and young adults (Alati et al, 2014). Parental use and abuse of drugs and alcohol is associated with adolescents as young as twelve years of age experimenting with drugs and alcohol (Sittner, 2015). Parents who use drugs and alcohol demonstrate to their children that drug and alcohol use is normal and acceptable. Thus, adolescents believe there is nothing wrong with using drugs and alcohol because their parents are using drugs and alcohol. In addition to parental substance use contributing to adolescent substance use, poor parent-child relationships also play a

Guilt: Children may feel they are responsible for the drinking, 2. Anxiety: Children may worry constantly about the home situation, 3. Embarrassment: Children may be ashamed of their home lives and avoid having friends to visit, 4. Unable to have close friendships: Children who have been disappointed, 5. Confusion: An alcoholic parent will switch from a loving to an angry stance quickly, confusing the child. The home schedule is also chaotic with no consistent bedtimes or mealtimes, 6. Anger: Children may be angry at the parent who is drinking and angry at the nonalcoholic parent for not supporting or protecting them, 7. Depression: Children of substance-abusing parents are lonely and feel helpless to change the situation”. These are the problems that children of alcoholic is going to experience of the course of their

Scott Russell Sanders, in the article Under The Influence, give a first hand account of what it is like be the child of an alcoholic. Sanders father was a drunk, he would drink daily. Sanders writes about how this childhood issue as affected him into his adulthood; specifically his early 40s. He explains that even his own children are affected. Sanders blames himself-- he feels as if he is the reason his father

Because of this, there are lots of support groups to help children of alcoholic’s cope with the problem.” Most alcoholics children are affected greatly by their parent’s addiction and usually have emotional & mental issues.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, results from several different studies they have conducted show that children from alcoholic families report higher levels of depression and anxiety. These same children also show more symptoms of stress than children from non-alcoholic families (Alcoholism). What these studies indicate is that if a child grows up in an atmosphere of constant alcohol consumption, the child has a higher likelihood of developing undesirable psychological disorders as they continue into adulthood. This apparently creates a never ending cycle of alcoholism within the family; however there were some positive results in these same studies.

The holiday season means at least one thing is certain every year. The family drunk has one too many drinks, their light fuse hits its target and the party becomes World War III. During the frantic aftermath, at least one person is trying to figure out what set them off, what started everything. However while most of the parties involved are able to go home, or go to sleep that night knowing that they do not have to see or think about something like that happening again, what about their children? Children of Alcoholics have to live with this behaviour everyday. Alcoholics function with no predictability, These children have no sense of stability other than expecting this erratic behaviour.

Alcohol use disorders is one of the most prevalent mental disorders worldwide and rank high as a cause of dis- ability burden in most regions of the world. In 2003, the prevalence of alcohol use disorders was estimated at 1.7% globally, and these disorders accounted for 1.4% of the total world disease burden. (Grant et al., 2004, p. 223) “Children of alcoholics, or “COAs” as they are called—are more likely than children from homes without such problems to develop serious problems of their own” such as, children of alcoholics (COAs) are four times more likely than non-COAs to develop

“Teens who drink don’t just drink. They drink to excess. More than 7 percent of eighth graders, 16 percent of sophomores, and 23 percent of seniors report recent binge drinking” (Karen Bellenir 65). Alcoholism continues to ruin the lives of underage drinkers; alcoholics in general are walking billboards to major companies that advertise their products, especially underage drinkers that in the process they mess up their lives, and make alcohol companies wealthier. Crimes, violence, and homicides are a result of alcoholism side effects taking over the lives of those who fall under the spell. Giving underage drinkers a false sense of security, self confidence, and maturity. At one point or another hitting rock bottom, walking up to a world they once belonged to, and cannot find a way to reincorporate in to it, leading them to commit suicide, vanishing one at a time without anyone noticing them.

Alcohol is a harmful drug consumed by many including young people ranging from the ages 15 to 29. Meanwhile alcohol does have some benefits when drank in moderation as an adult, when it comes to young people there is only negative impacts both psychically and mentally resulting in dangerous and life altering outcomes. What many seem to forget is that not only does alcohol effect the individual but also has a negative impact on their family, loved ones and community.

Alcohol is not merely a recreational drink. It is a tool to destroy personal and family lives if uncontrolled. Different people have different levels of control over the use of alcohol where some can actually use it only on occasions while others mess up their lives for it. Teens particularly are prone to the hazards of alcohol if they start quitting school to. The role of family is very significant in helping alcoholics overcome their addiction and lead a healthy non-alcoholic life.