Getting Children of Alcoholics the Help they Need

Alcoholism is referred to as a family disease. This is because the addiction not only harms the alcoholic but also everyone who has to live with them --- especially their children.

There are 18 million alcoholics in the U.S. according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. As a result, an estimated 26.8 million children are exposed to alcoholism in the family and 6.6 million children age 18 and younger live in households with at least one alcoholic parent.

Unfortunately, these vulnerable youth often struggle emotionally, behaviorally, and academically. According to the National Association for Children of Alcoholics, children of alcoholics (COAs) exhibit symptoms of depression and anxiety more than children of non-alcoholics. COAs appear to have lower self-esteem, exhibit elevated rates of psychopathology, and are more likely to experience anxiety and depression.

COAs also have greater physical and mental health problems and higher health care costs than children from non-alcoholic families. Inpatient admission rates for substance abuse are triple that of other children, and mental disorders are almost double that of other children. And the rate of total health care costs for children of alcoholics is 32% greater than children from non-alcoholic families. What’s more, a study recently published by the American Psychological Association showed that a person who grew up with a parent who abused alcohol was 85 percent more likely to commit suicide.

Children of alcoholics also often suffer academically. COAs tend to score lower on tests that measure cognitive and verbal skills. Their ability to express themselves may be impaired, which can impede their school performance. These kids are more likely to be truant, drop out of school, repeat grades, or be referred to a school counselor or psychologist. Rather than being a reflection of their academic ability, this may be a result of their difficulty bonding with teachers, other students and school. They may experience anxiety related to performance, and because they often don’t view themselves as successful, it’s common for COA’s to feel they will be failures even if they do well academically.

So, how we can we help these kids?

Although COAs often try to keep the alcoholism a secret, teachers, relatives and other adults may sense that something is wrong. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, children displaying following behaviors may signal there is a drinking problem at home:

• Failure in school; truancy

• Lack of friends; withdrawal from classmates; not wanting to have friends come to their house

• Delinquent behavior, such as stealing or violence

• Frequent physical complaints, such as headaches or stomachaches

• Abuse of drugs or alcohol; or

• Aggression towards other children

• Risk taking behaviors

• Depression or suicidal thoughts or behavior

Whether or not the alcoholic parents are in treatment, COAs can benefit from educational programs and help groups. Understanding these warning signs and getting the child professional help as quickly as possible will help COAs understand they are not responsible for the drinking problems of their parents and that they can be helped even if the parent is in denial and refusing to seek help.

Excellent treatment providers understand that an addiction not only harms the addict but also everyone who lives with them. Which is why they offer programs to support COAs and all family members as part of the curriculum.

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