ALCOHOLISM

W HAT IS ALCOHOLISM ? A disease that causes a person to lose control of his or her drinking behavior. Person is both physically and emotionally addicted to alcohol. An alcoholic craves alcohol An alcoholic also suffers painful physical symptoms with they don’t have alcohol

STATISTICS 18 million Americans are alcoholics 11 million children currently live in a home with an alcoholic 20% of adults have lived with an alcoholic at some point while growing up About half of all American adults have some family history of alcoholism 75% of domestic violence cases involve alcohol

W ARNING SIGNS OF A LCOHOLISM : Drinking to deal with anger, frustration, and disappointment Changing friends, personal habits, and interests Being defensive about drinking Feeling depressed Drinking more for the same high (tolerance) Drinking alone Drinking to get drunk Experiencing memory lapses as a result of drinking

R ISK F ACTORS OF A LCOHOLISM : Age Teens who start drinking before 15 are 4 times more likely to become an alcoholic Social Environment Peer pressure, advertising, and desire to fit in can influence a person’s decision to drink Genetics Alcoholism tends to run in families Male children of alcoholic fathers have a 25% risk of becoming alcoholic Risk-taking Personality Impulsive personalities add to the risk of alcoholism

S TAGES OF A LCOHOLISM … PROBLEM DRINKING Drinker cannot drink alcohol in moderation or at appropriate times TOLERANCE Drinker needs more alcohol to produce the same effect DEPENDENCE Drinker’s body needs alcohol to function normally ALCOHOLISM - ADDICTION Drinker has lost control of his or her drinking behavior

F AMILY R OLES : Victim – chemically dependent person Chief Enabler – closet emotionally to victim Scapegoat – problem child Family Hero – caretaker of the family Lost Child – forgotten child **Not ALL of these roles necessarily will be seen in every family with an alcoholic, however most often family members will take on a role.

T REATING AN A LCOHOLIC … Individual will likely go through withdrawal Need support from family/friends Treatment programs Inpatient and outpatient programs Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Al-Anon – designed to help give advice to the family members of alcoholics Alateen – specifically designed to help teens cope with an alcoholic in their family Check the phone book or internet for local agencies that can provide help