One in five children in America have grown up in a household with at least one or more alcoholic parent (AACAP). Teenagers in this situation tend to experience certain problems others may not. Within the last five years this common problem has increased significantly (Gold 1). I was first inspired to write this research paper after reading the New York Times bestseller, The Other Wes Moore. In the book, an alcoholic parent was present and was an issue. The father wasn’t a part of the other Wes Moore’s life causing him to be absent in raising his son. This led me to wonder how the other Wes Moore was negatively impacted and what he could have done to help himself cope with his situation. Many people believe the parent changing their ways is …show more content…
Many kids around the nation are a part of various organizations that aim to give support to an adolescent with an alcohol-abused household (NACOA). These organizations give children just like you an opportunity to talk about their feelings with others who can relate without the fear of judgment or embarrassment. The main focus of a support group is to reassure the child that he or she is not alone and others can relate to their situation (Web MD). Therefore, making them feel less lonely, secluded, and or judged by their peers (Mayo Clinic Staff). This gives them a sense of empowerment and control (Mayo Clinic Staff). While you’re an adolescent it may seem difficult to find a support group. However, there are many ways to go about looking for one. For example, you can ask any health care provider, look in your local newspaper’s/ ads, contact community centers such as churches, or simply search the internet (Mayo Clinic Staff). Some questions that are recommended by the Mayo Clinic to ask are, is that location convenient for your regular attendance, what type of meeting schedule is offered, is the support group confidential, and whether or not a particular group meets your certain needs (Mayo Clinic Staff). These questions are critical to ask so you’re able to choose an organization that best fits your needs (Mayo Clinic …show more content…
For example, Al-Anon is a widely known organization that helps youths handle their situations (Al-Anon Family Group). Their goal and mission is to reach out to kids whose lives have been affected by a parent’s drinking habits (Al-Anon Family Group). Majority of the groups within Al-Anon are kids ranging from ages thirteen to eighteen (Al-Anon Family Group). Another common support group for children is the Live in Love organization. The vision for Live in Love is to be a support network where children can break the cycle of alcoholism through hope, care, and education (Live in Love). The main focus is to provide an environment that allows adolescents of alcoholics to turn their energy into positive community service (Live in Love). Their belief is that early intervention and support can protect children and build lifelong resilience (Live in Love). I recommend researching groups within your community that you may want to be apart of, and that will also be beneficial in helping you with your
In The Other Wes Moore, male figures, specifically male role models, play an important part both Wes Moores’ lives and and are eventually what make or break their futures.
Children all over the world are exposed to the many risk, just like Dave. Dave did not face any biological risk factors like low-birth weight, being a premature baby, or prenatal alcohol exposure. However, Dave was faced with many environmental risks. One risk is the fact that he lived in a household with two alcoholics, this put Dave at even more risk of having emotional problems than children that live with nonalcoholic parents. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry’s Fact for Families page, “One in five adult Americans have lived with an alcoholic relative while growing up.” They go on to state, “Alcoholism runs in families, and children of alcoholics are four times more likely than other children to become alcoholics themselves. Compounding the psychological impact of being raised by a parent who is suffering from alcohol abuse is the fact that most children of alcoholics have experienced some form of neglect or abuse.”
The center combines a safe housing environment with structured educational programs that incorporate the philosophies of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous is the original self help group founded on principles that provide support and encouragement for recovering alcoholics. New members are encouraged to work with a spon...
Alcoholism is as prevalent in my family, as blood is in our veins. When previously asked to observe 12-step groups, I ritualistically flocked to Alcoholics Anonymous, without consideration of the possibility that other groups had any potential to make an impact on me. I always pride myself in my ability to identify as an individual that is not ensnared in alcoholism, but unfortunately am an individual that was highly tormented by alcoholism. Through observation of the group and how it processed, as well as identifying how I felt as a new attendee, I was able to understand why self-help, support groups are so vital for individuals in recovery. I finally realized, I too am in recovery.
There is a total of “970000 children(Children, Lambie-Sias)” under the age of 17 in the U.S. that are living with a parent or guardian who abuses alcohol.The guardian or parent put a lot of psychological hurt on these children, but typically it’s due to the fact that the parent has a coexisting psychiatric disorder. You can generally tell if the COAs (Children of Alcoholics) by certain indicators they show. They normally are always late, they don’t really care about their physical appearance, they could be really excited during the day but once it’s time to go home seem down in the dumps because they don’t want to return home to see their parent or guardian abuse alcohol. More psychological problems or indicators you can see are when the child has trouble controlling their mood and behavior, during the day they will show disobedient behavior, random outbreaks of their emotions, on normal day’s basis this child is known as the “class clown”. “Psychosomatic Responses(Children, Lambie-Sias)” this child will show during the school day are due to the emotional hurt they are feeling so they will confirm this by “physical symptomlogy (Children, Lambie-Sias)”, headaches and complaint of stomachs are usually what they will tell a teacher or nurse is wrong with them and these normally have unexplainable causes. The majority of the time these children, convey what
One in five adults can identify with growing up with an alcoholic relative and Twenty-eight million Americans have one parent abusing or dependent on alcoholic (Walker, & Lee, 1998). There are devastating and ubiquitous effects of alcoholism, which vary from psychological, social, or biological problems for families. Counselor’s treating this problem all agree that the relationships within a family, especially between a parent and a child is one of the most influential within a system, but what are the effects on the family when a parent is an alcoholic? Contemporary research has found there is a higher prevalence of problems in the family when alcohol is the organizing principle. In addition, there is copious research on the roles of individuals within the family becoming defined into specific categories, and evidently, the roles may become reversed between the parent and the child. This topic of functional roles in alcoholic families will be analyzed and investigated further. Family therapy has had substantial results in the treatment of an alcoholic parent. These results will be discussed more along, with the literature examining the existing research related, to specific interventions and treatments in family therapy with an alcoholic parent. Before research on the treatment is illuminated on distinctive therapies, it is crucial for counselors facilitating family therapy to comprehend the literature on the presenting problems commonly, associated with alcoholic parents and the effects this population has on their families. Furthermore, the adverse outcomes an alcoholic parent has on their children and spouses has been researched and reviewed.
...His mother is a recovering alcoholic so he was familiar with what happened when he would lose control when he drank. His mother was very aware of the signs. His grades went down, he started skipping classes, he lied to his mother, he was hanging out with friends who drank a lot and were always in trouble. Fortunately, he was given a second chance and he is in a program that is helping him recover. Teen drinking and alcoholism can be treated if treatment is started early. There is no known cure for alcoholism, but alcoholics can lead productive lives with help. There are many organizations that can help alcoholics such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). and Rational Recovery Systems. There are also organizations that promote abstinence from drinking such as S.A.D.D. (Students Against Drunk Driving) and M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). It is important for parents to be aware of what their children are doing and who their friends are. Teenagers need to continue to be educated on the effects of alcohol and the dangerous situations it causes.
Glatz, T., Stattin, H., & Kerr, M. (2012). A Test of Cognitive Dissonance Theory to Explain Parents' Reactions to Youths' Alcohol Intoxication. Family Relations, 61(4), 629-641.
Everyday, there are teens that are putting themselves in unbearable situations. Wether if it is being influenced by others to do drugs or alcohol, both causes are very dangerous. Just as one thinks he is ok, standing away from those situations, is the time when danger will strike, and there will be just a few chances to get out. The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore is written about two boys with the same name growing up in similar situations. Both grow up to be surrounded by crime and substance abuse, and both do in fact have several chances to escape those holdbacks. Crime and substance abuse was common because of the locations that both Wes's grew up, and that was ghettos. In the book, The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore, the author explores the
individuals and their families, and provide information about effective community-based interventions such as Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
Earls, F., Reich, W., Jung, K. G., & Cloninger, C. R. (2006). Psychopathology in children of alcoholic and antisocial parents. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 12(4), 481 - 487.
As the result of being raised in a home where one or both parents were addicted, children of alcoholics generally have certain common characteristics that continue to affect them as adults. Members of a dysfunctional family tend to build up defenses to deal with the problems of the addicted family member. Common problems include lack of communication, mistrust, and low self-esteem. Adult children of alcoholics often become isolated, are afraid of authority figures, have difficulty distinguishing between normal and abnormal behavior, and judge themselves harshly. This often leads to enduring feelings of guilt and problems with intimate relationships. In many cases, adult children of alcoholics develop an over-developed sense of responsibility, and respond poorly to criticism. They may feel different from other people, fear failure but tend to sabotage success, and fall in love with people they can pity and rescue. Fortunately, there are a number of support groups designed to help adult children of alcoholics identify their problems, and start resolving them.
D'Amico, E., Osilla, K., & Hunter, S. (2010). Developing a Group Motivational Interviewing Intervention for Adolescents At-Risk for Developing an Alcohol or Drug use Disorder. National Institue of Health, 28(4), 417-436.
Smith, Karen. “Alcohol Use by youth and Adolescents: A Pediatric Concern.” Pediatric American Academy of Pediatrics. 12 April, 2010. Web. 26 March, 2014. .
In the United states there are around 11 million children under 18 with alcoholic parents. These children are also at risk of having alcoholic adulthoods due to the influence it has in their childhood environment. Jenna Boller and her younger sister Faith have both struggled to keep a relationship with their father - an alcoholic unwilling to admit that he has a problem. "AA stands for Alcoholics Anonymous… We got my dad to go to one meeting. He stormed home saying he didn't need to be sitting around with all those losers" (Bauer 99-100). Alcoholism is a disease that affects effective parenting skills, effective communication between family members, and being an effective role model to the child.