The Film Addiction: The Family In Crisis

Addiction is an issue that many families find themselves struggling with. The film, Addiction: The family in crisis, discusses many of the issues surrounding addiction and alcoholism in the family. Addiction was described in the film as a “family disease”, meaning not only does addiction and alcoholism effect everyone in the family, everyone also has a role to play in the family dynamics which may perpetuate the behavior of the alcoholic. The most notable position prolonging the addict’s behavior is the person who takes the role of the enabler. This person will keep the alcoholic from seeking help by assisting or supporting them in their habit. The enabler can be a wife, a mother, or a friend, but it is usually someone who cares very much for
The risk of physical abuse may increase with an alcoholic parent. They may lack the patience necessary to provide antiquate parenting skills and may turn to physical punishment, or abuse. Kunitz, Levy, McCloskey, and Gabriel (1998), explain that “Physical abuse is a significant risk factor for alcohol dependence.” This highlights how serious physical abuse is by alcoholic parents. Children who are abused have a higher risk factor of themselves developing a dependence on alcohol. This creates a cycle of addiction and violence within families that can be very difficult to
As well as the connection between children of alcoholic parents growing up themselves to abuse alcohol. The film mentioned facts such as “alcohol is the most widely used drug among teenagers”, yet the focus of the film was strongly orientated towards adult alcoholics. Since many individuals begin drinking during adolescents, the film should have focused more on how to prevent teenagers from becoming dependent on alcohol, rather than fixing the problem once it has