NCJ Number
125392
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 41 Issue: 2 Dated: (1990) Pages: 19-24
Date Published
1990
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Children of alcoholics exhibit greater tendencies to have problems in school with substance abuse, with peer relationships, with depression and hyperactivity, and with aggression and low self-esteem. They also have an external local of control and have problems with dependency and delinquency.
Abstract
The dysfunctional alcoholic family has several roles (chief enabler, family hero, scapegoat, lost child, and mascot) with accompanying dynamics, perceptions, and distortions that children carry into adulthood, where these roles cannot be viable. In addition, children in alcoholic homes are often exposed to family violence and may be victims of physical and emotional abuse. Clinical observations indicate that up to 80 percent of all children of alcoholics have disabling emotional problems. The effects of living with an alcoholic parent is expressed most strongly in adolescence and adulthood, when a foundation of values, perceptions, beliefs, behaviors, and life skills is not developed or validated. Juvenile justice professionals need to be aware of these children and their needs in order to implement early intervention and avoid later problems of acting-out behavior and alcohol or drug addiction. (Author abstract modified)