Neglected Family

“The Neglected Ones” According to The website titled “The Center on Addiction and the Family” 1 in 4 children in the United Sates is exposed to alcohol abuse and or dependency in the family at some point before age 18. Astounding as these numbers are they are preventable. There are essentially two types of AOD (alcohol and other drug) exposures children face prenatal and interpersonal both can have dramatic effects on these children. Interpersonal exposure from parental AOD use can effect a child’s social and psychological development. However, these effects may vary. “Substance Abuse” fourth edition reports, “This is due to individual and environmental differences including age of exposure, progression of use, characteristics of the child
First, sufferers may look unkempt or just inappropriate, as they are sometimes neglected by the drug or alcohol abusing parent. Monday is often the “sloppy day.” Children may come to school late as they are usually taking care of themselves and often times even others in the home. Preparing breakfast, making sure younger siblings get off to school and cleaning up after the substance abusing parent. Second, these children may talk about witnessing violent or abusive situations at home. In the textbook “Substance Abuse” fourth edition it states that “Families often invoke rules such as “Don’t talk, don’t trust, and don’t feel.” Substance abusing parents believe that by invoking this motto it prevents people outside the family from knowing what is going on inside the family. Third, Academic performance may suffer because these children can’t help but worry about their home life and their substance abusing parent. On the COAF web site the interesting point was noted that towards the end of the school day often times the children begin to worry about going back home. Fourth, Schools and teachers have reported the children effected by substance abusing parents frequently may seem depressed or withdrawn often times exhibiting behavioral problems. Some examples of these behaviors might be complaining of stomachaches, headaches or other physical ailments, with no explainable
Therefore it would be unwise to assume that all children who experience AOD abuse in their families of origin will exhibit similar behaviors. However, studies have shown that children who grow up in homes where AOD‘s are abused often view themselves as worthless, can feel unimportant as a result of being consistently rejected, and may feel responsible for their parents substance abuse.” Alcoholism and other drug addiction have genetic and environmental causes. Both have serious consequences for children who live in homes where parents are involved. The web site Hope Networks.org states “More than 28 million Americans are children of alcoholics; nearly 11 million are under the age of 18. This figure is magnified by the countless number of others who are affected by parents who are impaired by other psychoactive drugs.” Alcoholism and other drug addiction tend to run in families. This puts children of addicted parents at more risk for alcoholism and other drug abuse. Hope Networks.org also reports that, “Biological children of alcohol dependent parents who have been adopted continue to have an increased risk of developing alcoholism.” Additionally they also stated that recent studies suggest a strong genetic component, particularly for early onset of alcoholism in males. Sons of alcoholic fathers are at fourfold risk compared with the male offspring of non-alcoholic fathers.”