Children of alcoholics
D. I. Macdonald and S. B. Blume
One of every eight American children is the child of a parent who has a
past or present drinking problem. Children of alcoholic parents are at
great risk. They are significantly more likely to develop addiction
problems and a variety of mental health disorders. They live in homes with
high levels of stress. Poor communication, permissiveness,
undersocialization, neglect, and violence are common and can be truly
devastating. Because of the stigma and denial associated with chemical
dependency, these children often suffer in silence, unidentified and
unassisted.
