Alcoholism Can Affect Everyone in the Family

Alcoholism is sometimes referred to as a "family disease" for a reason. It not only affects the drinker, but it can affect those who are closest to the alcoholic - family members, friends, co-workers, and employers.

Naturally, spouses or intimate partners are closely involved with the daily struggles brought about by the alcoholic's actions and behavior, and are affected by the experience it ways they may not understand or even realize.

However, children in the household can be profoundly affected by growing up with alcoholism in the home and many times those effects remain with them long into adulthood.

The good news is there are ways that families and friends of an alcoholic can learn to cope with the situation and not only survive, but thrive in their own lives, whether the alcoholic is still drinking or not, as these articles explain.

Living With an Alcoholic

How Can I Get Him to Stop Drinking?
By the time the families and friends ask this question about the drinker in their lives, the answer is usually no longer simple.

Alcoholism Is a Family Disease
Whether it is called alcoholism, alcohol abuse, or an alcohol use disorder, it does the same psychological and emotional damage to family members as it continues to progress.

Why I Always Recommend Al-Anon
In my own experience of dealing with a family member's alcoholism I spent years trying to find answers and solutions without any success, until I found Al-Anon.

How Long Will He Keep Drinking?
Unfortunately, the family's suffering can go on for many years before the alcoholic makes a decision to seek treatment for his addiction.

'I Don't Believe Alcoholism Is a Disease'
It may seem like an alcoholic is simply making poor choices, but it gets to a point when drinking becomes a mental obsession and physical compulsion.

The Pros and Cons of Interventions
Sometimes a professional intervention is the only choice left to an alcoholic's family but there are risks that should be carefully considered.

Roles Alcoholic Families Play
You are not the cause of someone else's drinking problem, you cannot cure it and you can't control it, but you can contribute to the family's problem.

What Exactly Is Enabling?
There are many different ways that love ones can enable an alcoholic, some of them are easily recognizable, but other can be very subtle and enigmatic.

Could You Be Enabling an Alcoholic?
Sometimes, while sincerely trying to help loved ones of alcoholics can inadvertently do things that help them continue along their destructive path.

Alcohol and Marital Violence
Couples who argue a lot during their first year of marriage are more likely to have violence erupt in later years, if one partner is a heavy drinker and the other is not.

Why Some Don't 'Keep Coming Back'
Some newcomers who could really benefit from the Al-Anon Family Group program drop out before they get help. Why do some newcomers stop coming back?

More About Alcoholic Families
Learn more about the effects of alcoholism on the family, recognizing enabling, detachment, how children are affected, and how to help someone with a drinking problem.

Adult Children of Alcoholics

Common Traits of Adult Children of Alcoholics
People who grew up in alcoholic homes share a long list of remarkably similar characteristics and personality traits. Can you identify with any of them?

Did You Grow Up in an Alcoholic Home?
Growing up in home with an active alcoholic can affect how a child looks at life and almost everything in it.

The DOA Project
You didn't choose to be a Daughter of an Alcohlic, and you cannot change the fact that you are a DOA. You are not to blame. But there is another way to live.

Children of Alcoholic Homes

How Will Your Child Drink?
Children learn their attitudes about drinking from those around them, especially from parents and other adults while they are growing up.

Is Your Teenager Using Drugs or Alcohol?
Here are some signs to look for, if you suspect that your child may be using drugs or alcohol.

Family Dinners a Key to Prevention
Kids who regularly sit down with the family and have dinner are less likely to become involved in alcohol and drugs at an early age, and more likely to do well in school.

Early Childhood Spirituality Deters Alcohol Abuse
Teenagers who have made a personal choice to pursue spirituality are half as likely to drinking alcohol, take drugs, or smoke marijuana, research shows.

Trouble Talking With Your Kids About Drinking?
These publications can help parents and guardians prepare for having a difficult conversation with their older children about underage drinking.

Parents' Supervision Can Prevent Early Drug Use
Research has found that the more parents are involved in their children's lives, especially in the pre-teen years, can play a big role in keeping them away from alcohol and drugs.

Common Myths About Underage Drinking
No, not everyone is doing it and it certainly doesn't make you look cool. Learn more facts about the myths associated with underage drinking.

Youthful Drinkers Have Greater Risk of Becoming Alcoholics
Researchers have found that the earlier people begin drinking the more likely they will develop alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence problems later in adulthood.

Return to The Alcoholism Guide.