The Disastrous Effects Of Parental Drug Addiction On Children

The interesting factor of this article, is that it addresses very low levels of alcohol exposure and its association or impact, if any on a child’s behavior as measured around the age of 6 to 7 years old. Very little research has been done in this particular area which makes this even more interesting when we take into consideration something as simple as the

In what ways does a parent’s alcoholism impact children’s social competence? What family variables have the most effect on social competence? In this paper, I will analyze three sources to answer these questions. An academic research study, a blog post describing a woman's experience growing up with an alcoholic mother, and an interview with a therapist at a treatment center for alcohol and drug addiction will give a diverse and thorough analysis through triangulation. The sources agreed that a parental alcoholism caused children to have more trouble making friends, low self-esteem, and that children can improve their social competence over time. The research study found that the interaction between the gender of the child and gender of the alcoholic parent had the greatest influence on social competence.

The primary goal of this paper is to challenge the belief that adult children of alcoholics tend to abuse alcohol as the result of bio-genetic composition, and to show instead the evidence that the unpredictable home environment in which alcoholics grow up may be responsible. I will also review the risk for alcohol abuse among and how growing up in a chaotic family environment affect adult children of alcoholics. Families with either one or two parents alcoholic they home life is in consist turmoil. They often have rules the children must follow and lack parental guidance. The children also to do not develop healthy coping skills and tend to be at risk of becoming alcoholic themselves due to their home environment. This kind of

In addition to physical neglect, children of substance abusing parents often experience emotional problems. They show high rates of emotional problems compared to their peers (” Understanding the Diverse Needs of Children whose Parents Abuse Substances” 5). The emotional problems that those children experience include: depression, fear, anxiety, mistrust, confusion, eating disorders, mood disorders, and lower self-esteem (“Effects of Parental Substance Abuse on Children and Families” 2). Those emotional problems may be the result of parental neglect or prenatal substance exposure. As studies found out, prenatal substance exposure is associated with emotional and psychological problems of the children (Smith and Wilson 2). Children who grow

A man by the name of Michael Robitham once said, “Alcoholics don’t have relationships- they take hostages.” If we replace “alcoholics” with addicts, this can be true of any addiction and it is problematic for our society. Addiction is on the rise in our country and it is quickly becoming an epidemic. The reason for the rapid rise is due, in part, to the fact that many children are following in their addicted parents’ footsteps. The future of our country is at risk as more youth turn towards drugs and alcohol. The government should implement programs that support addicts and their children in order to stop the cycle of addiction.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) reported that more than eight million children younger than age 18 live with at least one adult who is struggling with substance abuse, a rate of more than one in 10 children. The majority of these children are younger than age 5. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [USDHHS], 2010). Children that have one or more of their parents that are addicted to drugs are at a higher risk for negative experiences in their lives compared to children that do not, including poorer health, risk for harmful behaviors, physical and mental delays, and a higher susceptibility to using substances themselves. The development of attachment theory by psychologist John Bowlby and family systems

Substance abuse is an addiction and it is the addition, which is referred to a chronic disease. It is this chronic disease that is a significant and growing issue, especially among family units where either one or two parents and/or parental guardians suffer from. Despite the various and complex reasons that cause the parents or parental guardians to abuse substances, it is their children who suffer thus, significantly affecting the parent/parental guardian and child bonding relationship. It is this bonding relationship when compromised that negatively affects the child’s overall socio-emotional and psychological well-being, as well as times when there are physical risk factors such as abuse, neglect, or mistreatment (Johnson, 2015). According to a study by

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

Alcoholism which is known as the family disease has been affecting families for decades. This disease is not just affecting the one suffering from it, but the family in its entirety. A child growing up an in alcoholic family is four times more likely to abuse alcohol in the future. (“Children Of Alcoholics”). It begins with children seeing drinking as an everyday phenomenon, and beginning to perceive this as the norm (“Children of Alcoholics”). It starts to increase their expectation and reality of drinking at an early age and begins the process of accumulating an obsessive behavior, but that does not come from just anywhere. There are two components that go along with becoming an alcoholic and they are a physiological aspect and

Jacob and Johnson similarly point to recent studies that suggest that a person's ideas regarding the effects of alcohol can be significant markers of alcohol use and abuse. Additionally, studies evaluating the impact of parental drinking on the development of children's alcohol expectancies have revealed three key issues (Jacob & Johnson, 1997).

One study determined that the death of a spouse, divorce, or either a member of the family moving in or out were three of many stressful experiences that alcoholics have linked to need for consumption. • High levels of emotional abuse, parental alcoholism, constant parental conflict, feeling unwanted or unloved. • A parent/caregiver’s lack of involvement or negative involvement in the lives of their children in the formative years. • A parent’s consumption of alcohol is thought to be associated with their child’s initiation and continuation of alcohol

According to research, almost half proportion of children live with a parent who drinks heavily, uses tobacco, or uses illegal drugs which are harmful to their overall growth and nearly half quarter of children live in a home who do heavy drinking (CASA, 2005). Substance abuse in a parent can mean that child’s needs are not meet, and children can be put in danger of neglect or abuse. The early research on the 2000s with methamphetamine abusers found that mothers endeavored to keep their youngsters away from their drug use as it was also difficult for respondents to recognize that their parenting had been impaired by drug use. Further, As Reported by the (Centre for Substance Abuse Treatments, 2004) the impacts on kids can be harsher if both mother and father are substance abusers. The danger of substance abuse and depression and other forms of illness is higher if the mother who is alcoholic.

Family history plays a strong role in the aetiology of alcohol dependency. There is no denying a strong intergenerational link. It is a general consensus that this can be partially explain 40-60% by genetic vulnerability (Sher, Grekin, & Williams, 2005) but family systems theory focuses on explaining the other 40-60% of potential environmental causes embedded in the family system. Parental substance use leads to poor family relationships and parenting practices. With an alcohol dependent parent in the family there tends to be high family conflict and low levels of attachment which both increase the risk of the child developing alcohol related issues (Kumpfer, Alvarado, & Whiteside, 2003). Like wise alcohol dependent parents tend to express low levels of monitoring and generally have poor parenting skills; which leave adolescents free to express antisocial behaviours (Kumpfer et. al., 2003). Much the same, children living within a family stuck in a cycle of alcohol-use disorder, model their drinking behaviours on those around them. They are more likely to mimic hazardous drinking in this way, which is further enabled by the dysfunctional patterns of use within the family (Sher et. al. 2005). The family system’s equilibrium is maintained by alcohol use.

In the last year alone 27 million people (in the United States) reported abusing illegal substances/prescription drugs, while 66 million reported binge drinking. Despite these astounding numbers so much stigma and misinformation surrounds substance abuse and seeking help. Millions of families are suffering, addiction wrecking homes and relationships throughout the country. With 31% of all children removed from their home due to substance abuse as recently as 2012, it is important for the future of these children that the social institution of the family be fixed. Social support for substance abusers should be a forefront considering the detrimental effects on the family. The importance of this support is proven through the devastating effects

Many children grow up with parents that are alcoholics. These children are affected directily causing different problems growing up, and continuing into the adult lives of the indidvuals. This semester I was introducted to author John Cheevers. Out of all of Cheevers short stories three delt with children who had parents that drink excessively. The children all reacted in different ways to how the parents was treating them. “Children of alcoholics family enviroments are characterized by disruption, deviant parenting role, inadequate parenting, disturbed parent-child relationship” (kenneth J. Sher PH.D). The Sarrow of Gin amy parents shows a ton of traits that is consider inadaquate parenting. “ they were always at her. Amy please try to take more pains with your Apperence.” (pg 199 john cheevers). Also leaving Amy with the new cook while they go out to the neighbors house to have