Family Alcohol Problems
- Double the risk of divorce/separation.
- 40% of domestic violence incidents.
- 25% of known child abuse cases.
- 60% of Child Protection Register.
Robinson (2000)
It’s not the drinking, but...
- Violence in the home.
- Marital/relationship conflict.
- Separation, divorce, loss of parent.
- Inconsistency and ambivalent parenting.
- Unpredictability.
- Drinking parent centred not child-centred.
Possible Effects on Family Life
- Inconsistency, changing moods.
- Role reversal.
- Communication.
- Routines and rituals.
- Social life.
- Finances.
Effects on Family Functioning
- Family conflict and disharmony.
- Cruel, passive or neglectful parental attitude.
- Inconsistent and unpredictable parenting.
- Parents do not set clear or safe limits.
- Children take on parental role.
- Parents are emotionally unavailable and distracted.
- Outings and social events fraught with uncertainty.
- Child fears parent might die or otherwise leave them.
- Deprivation caused by poverty.
Effects on Children
- Anti-social behaviour - aggressiveness, delinquency, conduct disorders, hyperactivity.
- Adolescence - problems associated with using drugs and alcohol.
- Emotional problems-psycho-social problems, asthma, bedwetting, negative attitudes to self.
- School environment-academic problems, difficulties learning, loss of confidence, conduct disorders.
Problem drinking parents are often:
- Unpredictable.
- Aggressive.
- Chaotic.
- Inconsistent.
- Unreliable.
Adverse consequences
- Typically multiple and cumulative.
- Failure to thrive.
- Blood-borne infections.
- Incomplete immunisation and inadequate health care.
- Wide range of emotional, cognitive, behavioural and other psychological problems.
- Early substance misuse and offending behaviour.
- Poor educational attainment
ACMD (2003)
Longer Term Effects
- Effects on transition to adulthood.
- Friendship difficulties.
- Division between home and peers -home seen as negative.
- Drinking alcohol/drug-taking at an earlier age.
- Leaving home early -by comparison with others.
- Prescribed psycho-active drugs as children and adolescents (27% v 3%) by age 17
- Earlier marriages -seeking social stability.
Children of Problem Drinkers
- Do not expect adults to provide well for them.
- Do not anticipate love, warmth or friendship.
- Are hyper-vigilant towards changing moods.
- Take too much or too little responsibility.
- See positive outcomes to problems as exceptions.
- Do not trust adults to be fair.
- Find it difficult to relax and enjoy things
- Expect and even create conflict in relationships.
Protective Factors
- A non-drinking parent.
- Cohesive parental relationship.
- Cohesive family.
- Rituals maintained.
- Influence of important others.
- Engaged with things outside the home.
- Deliberate planning.
How to Increase Resilience?
Help a young person:
- See themselves as separate from family problems.
- Develop belief in own abilities.
- Understand and express feelings and emotions.
- Cope with difficulties and problem solve.
- Engage in activities outside family.
- Engaged with things outside the home.
- Develop their own plans for the future.
The majority of this page was based on a presentation made by Wendy Robinson, NSPCC/ARP Family Alcohol Service. 2000.
To receive a copy of the NSPCC publication "Alcohol, Childcare and Parenting -A Handbook for Practitioners" send an A4 SAE (telephone 020 7383 3817 or 020 7403 3369 for current postage costs):
Administrator, Family Alcohol Service,
88-91 Troutbeck House,
off Robert Street,
London NW1 4EJ