Alcoholism and Family: What are the effects?

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 When you hear the word alcohol, what comes to mind? I'm sure partying, dancing with friends, and maybe regretful decisions are some of the first thoughts that pop up in your mind, but the effects of alcohol surely do not stop there. Alcohol abuse is becoming more and more common throughout the world, and it not only impacts the person drinking but also everyone around them. With that being said, an increase in support outlets such as AA or Al-anon needs to put in place, as well as more increased support outlets and opportunities for those who are going through addiction or for the family members of addicts.  

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    Researchers have had an increased focus on the family members of addicts, stating that "they often live in stressful circumstances and have lots of worries that frequently lead to poorer physical and mental health as well as lower quality of life compared to the general population." In addition to the number of effects that it can have on your physical and mental health, there are may also behavioral impacts that may take a toll on any children in the household.

    Being around something constantly can convince your brain that it is okay, which may cause problems in the future. With genetics and alcoholism having a 50-60% risk factor in an adolescent's adult life, it is important to keep that in mind if substance abuse is a prevalent issue in your home.

   An article by Nzinga Harrison discusses the extensive effects addiction has on kids, stating "For many children, they have difficulty expressing their emotions about how addiction impacts their lives. As a result, they learn to cope in a variety of ways. They may take on more responsibility, acting as a parental figure with their siblings and friends. They may become 'overachievers' in school and extracurriculars. For some, the unresolved feelings from childhood may end up manifesting as an adult."

    Some of the other impacts she talked about were Depression, Anxiety, Guilt, Self-blame, and even Embarrassment. Growing up in an environment that exhibits dependent behavior to something can also increase the chances of substance abuse and codependency in future relationships in adulthood. addiction center states children with alcoholic parents are 4 times as likely to engage in excessive drinking at some point in their life. 

    NIH also goes on to discuss in one of their articles the temptations substances can have on teenagers, stating "Teens are especially vulnerable to possible addiction because their brains are not yet fully developed—particularly the frontal regions that help with impulse control and assessing risk. Pleasure circuits in adolescent brains also operate in overdrive, making drug and alcohol use even more rewarding and enticing."

    Although the short-term effects of alcohol are recognized day to day in our country, many people tend to ignore or push over the long-term effects alcoholism has on families. A lot of people share the mindset of, "it'll never happen to me" or "it doesn't involve me so why should I care?". Although this is the case for people who enjoy drinking on the weekends or at a special event, there is no determining factor for who can become dependent on a substance and who can't. There is no major advertisement for AA or Al-anon, so many people don't know what it is and, in result, don't care to explore those options. In addition to the lack of awareness revolving support programs for addiction, there is no payment to be involved in these programs, so there really is no commitment necessary which makes it hard to stick with it. Despite these factors, the long-term effects addiction has on families can range from divorce to poverty to even homelessness, so the importance of providing support and even just acknowledging these effects is a good way to take the first steps in limiting addiction.

"Research shows that children of parents with an AUD are more likely to engage in alcohol or substance misuse themselves. In fact, by young adulthood, 53% of these children (compared to 25% of children whose parents don’t have an AUD), show evidence of an alcohol or drug use disorder." - American Addiction Center

     So, what are the strategies we can use to reduce alcoholism in families? Although it is up to the person struggling with addiction to get help, there are numerous ways to provide support to anyone struggling with alcoholism or substance abuse disorder.

    Getting involved in AA or Al-anon is a great way to get involved in a supportive community while also simultaneously hearing stories from people going through similar things to you. If you are the family member of someone struggling, giving constant reassurance and positive words is a good way to show you are there and care for them during this difficult time in their life. Remind them how much they mean to you, and that you are proud of them for taking steps in their recovery.

    Addiction has been around for centuries and will not vanish anytime soon. However, recognizing the risk factors and importance of acknowledging substance abuse as a whole one of the first steps in making a big change in not only in the numbers of families living through addiction, but also the numbers of people we see dying each year due to overdoses, drunk driving accidents, and many other issues that stem off of America's rise in addiction. Keeping yourself educated on addiction and prioritizing your own safety and health is the most important thing to do. We lose too many people every year to the long-term effects of something that only gives you short term bliss.