Alcoholism and Its Effects on People
Most children who physically see signs of their parent’s addiction to alcohol don’t even realize how they are affected by alcoholism as well. “In my mind, Dad was perfect, although he did have what Mom called a bit of a drinking situation” (Walls 23). This quote is from Jeannette Walls, author of The Glass Castle, who grew up in a dysfunctional, abusive family with an alcoholic father. Alcohol affects everyone involved, including the user, their family, friends, and those around them. It can lead to many emotional pains and even physical problems, such as blacking out, nausea, sweating, and shaking.
Alcohol can truly control people’s lives and become the most important thing on their mind. It can make people feel like they have to hide alcohol in unusual places and sneak drinks in secret. “Alcoholism is when you have signs of physical addiction to alcohol and continue to drink, despite problems with physical health, mental health, and social, family, or job responsibilities” (A.D.A.M. Editorial Board). Consuming alcohol can become a part of a person’s daily life and prevent them from spending time with their family. This can affect family and work relationships and can cause problems financially.
An alcoholic is known to do whatever it takes in order to drink. Jeannette Walls’ father would steal money from her to satisfy his needs with alcohol, even though the family was living in poor conditions, had no food, and was barely getting by financially (The Glass Castle). During the Great Depression people were upset and desperate enough that they thought drinking could take them away from their problems. They tended to blame others for their issues and had a higher chance of getting into legal trouble.
The causes of alcoholism can vary, but no matter what the reason for drinking heavily, each case usually leads down the same bad road. Anyone can be an alcoholic no matter what their age, race, or gender. However, according to psychologist Deborah Morrow, males are more likely to develop alcoholism because after work they tend to drink more because of all the stress they’re dealing with, such as supporting a family. After a while, alcohol causes the brain to start producing dopamine, which makes the brain need stronger alcohol. Also certain personalities make people more likely to drink, for example those who want to please everyone may not be able to say no or make their decisions.
It has been shown that alcoholism is hereditary and that children of alcoholics are more likely to become addicted to alcohol themselves. A woman who consumes alcohol during pregnancy may affect the fetus even before her child is born. According to the AIIP Journal, in pregnant women, alcohol is carried to all of the mother’s organs and tissues, including the placenta, where it easily crosses through the membrane separating the maternal and fetal blood systems. The baby’s bloodstream becomes the same level as the mother’s whenever she drinks alcohol. It’s important that children, especially teenagers, avoid the consumption of alcohol because their brains don’t fully develop until their early 20’s. Children under 21 who start drinking are more likely to develop dependency early in their lives.
Children of alcoholics take on different roles depending on how they feel they need to act in the situation. There are four major categories that children tend to fall under; the overly responsible, the placater, the adjuster, and the scapegoat. “The responsible child is the one who becomes their own parent. The placater takes on the emotional responsibility for all the family members. The adjuster is the child who shrugs their shoulders and says they aren’t bothered. The scapegoat is the child that acts out and has no problem telling everyone that something is wrong” (Hevey).
The spouse of an alcoholic is usually too afraid to confront them and they have a more difficult time sharing their emotions to others. They begin to grow a higher tolerance for their spouse’s outward behavior and don’t believe the fact that their spouse has a problem. They also have a people pleasing personality and try to get attention from people since they don’t get any from their alcoholic spouse. They want everyone to accept them.
It is important to know the alternatives for drinking because there are other ways to deal with stress, depression, or even boredom. The legal drinking age is 21, and the safe drink limit is 2 drinks at most for men and 1 at the most for women. The best treatment for alcoholism is abstinence. Those with a strong support system tend to stay alcohol-free longer than those without. Treatment may also involve medication to help maintain staying sober. It will always be tempting for alcoholics, even after treatment, to fall back into their old ways.
Works Cited
A.D.A.M. Editorial Board. Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Jan. 2001. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001940/>.
Morrow, Deborah. "The Causes of Alcoholism." The Alcoholism Guide. N.p., 2012. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. <http://www.the-alcoholism-guide.org/causes-of-alcoholism.html>.
Parsons, Tetyana. "Alcoholism and Its Effect on the Family." AIIPsych Journal. N.p., 14 Dec. 2003. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. <http://allpsych.com/journal/alcoholism.html>.
Walls, Jeannette. The Glass Castle: A Memoir. New York: Scribner, 2005. Print.
Alcohol can truly control people’s lives and become the most important thing on their mind. It can make people feel like they have to hide alcohol in unusual places and sneak drinks in secret. “Alcoholism is when you have signs of physical addiction to alcohol and continue to drink, despite problems with physical health, mental health, and social, family, or job responsibilities” (A.D.A.M. Editorial Board). Consuming alcohol can become a part of a person’s daily life and prevent them from spending time with their family. This can affect family and work relationships and can cause problems financially.
An alcoholic is known to do whatever it takes in order to drink. Jeannette Walls’ father would steal money from her to satisfy his needs with alcohol, even though the family was living in poor conditions, had no food, and was barely getting by financially (The Glass Castle). During the Great Depression people were upset and desperate enough that they thought drinking could take them away from their problems. They tended to blame others for their issues and had a higher chance of getting into legal trouble.
The causes of alcoholism can vary, but no matter what the reason for drinking heavily, each case usually leads down the same bad road. Anyone can be an alcoholic no matter what their age, race, or gender. However, according to psychologist Deborah Morrow, males are more likely to develop alcoholism because after work they tend to drink more because of all the stress they’re dealing with, such as supporting a family. After a while, alcohol causes the brain to start producing dopamine, which makes the brain need stronger alcohol. Also certain personalities make people more likely to drink, for example those who want to please everyone may not be able to say no or make their decisions.
It has been shown that alcoholism is hereditary and that children of alcoholics are more likely to become addicted to alcohol themselves. A woman who consumes alcohol during pregnancy may affect the fetus even before her child is born. According to the AIIP Journal, in pregnant women, alcohol is carried to all of the mother’s organs and tissues, including the placenta, where it easily crosses through the membrane separating the maternal and fetal blood systems. The baby’s bloodstream becomes the same level as the mother’s whenever she drinks alcohol. It’s important that children, especially teenagers, avoid the consumption of alcohol because their brains don’t fully develop until their early 20’s. Children under 21 who start drinking are more likely to develop dependency early in their lives.
Children of alcoholics take on different roles depending on how they feel they need to act in the situation. There are four major categories that children tend to fall under; the overly responsible, the placater, the adjuster, and the scapegoat. “The responsible child is the one who becomes their own parent. The placater takes on the emotional responsibility for all the family members. The adjuster is the child who shrugs their shoulders and says they aren’t bothered. The scapegoat is the child that acts out and has no problem telling everyone that something is wrong” (Hevey).
The spouse of an alcoholic is usually too afraid to confront them and they have a more difficult time sharing their emotions to others. They begin to grow a higher tolerance for their spouse’s outward behavior and don’t believe the fact that their spouse has a problem. They also have a people pleasing personality and try to get attention from people since they don’t get any from their alcoholic spouse. They want everyone to accept them.
It is important to know the alternatives for drinking because there are other ways to deal with stress, depression, or even boredom. The legal drinking age is 21, and the safe drink limit is 2 drinks at most for men and 1 at the most for women. The best treatment for alcoholism is abstinence. Those with a strong support system tend to stay alcohol-free longer than those without. Treatment may also involve medication to help maintain staying sober. It will always be tempting for alcoholics, even after treatment, to fall back into their old ways.
Works Cited
A.D.A.M. Editorial Board. Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Jan. 2001. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001940/>.
Morrow, Deborah. "The Causes of Alcoholism." The Alcoholism Guide. N.p., 2012. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. <http://www.the-alcoholism-guide.org/causes-of-alcoholism.html>.
Parsons, Tetyana. "Alcoholism and Its Effect on the Family." AIIPsych Journal. N.p., 14 Dec. 2003. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. <http://allpsych.com/journal/alcoholism.html>.
Walls, Jeannette. The Glass Castle: A Memoir. New York: Scribner, 2005. Print.