see also: About.com
see also: How will your child drink
see also: Men BAC chart
see also: Teens and Alcohol
see also: Women and Alcohol
see also: Women BAC chart
see also: Your Health

Children of Alcoholics
When children grow up in a household with a substance-abusing parent, they can develop problems that last a lifetime. They are at risk for depression and anxiety, often lack social and other skills and are more likely to develop substance abuse problems than children who don't have a drug-dependent parent.

Children of substance abusers may also feel isolated, embarrassed or afraid to bring friends home. Experts say these kids need caring adults to help them, maybe just to talk, to let them know they're not being disloyal to their families by talking. Trusted adults, (such as relatives, friends, teachers, coaches or school nurses) can help children of substance abusers feel less alone and unloved and confused by their parent's actions. These caring adults can help kids learn that their parent's drug use is not their fault, they can't cure it or make it better.

Adults who help a child of a substance abuser offer a lifeline that can last a lifetime. For more information, including resources that can offer adults information on assisting kids of substance abusers, visit theantidrug.com or call 1-800-788-2800.

Five Million Parents Have Alcohol Problems (SAMHSA). Children at Higher Risk for Developing Problems. A new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that almost 5 million alcohol-dependent or alcohol-abusing parents have at least one child living at home with them. These parents were more likely to smoke cigarettes, use illicit drugs and report household turbulence than other parents.

The data consistently show that parents who misuse alcohol are more likely to also use illicit drugs. The data indicate that over 35 percent of parents with past year alcohol dependence or abuse used illicit drugs in the past year, compared with only 11 percent of parents without alcohol problems.
Address: http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/tipsforparents/a/blsam040220.htm

updated 07/22/10