What to Say Children of alcoholics are always affected by their parent's drinking, even though it may not be apparent. Approximately one in four children of alcoholics will develop alcoholism. More than 1 in 8 Americans has a parent who drinks too much. Sometimes a parent develops alcoholism when the child is young. Other times, a parent's drinking doesn't become a problem until after the child has grown up.
Alcoholism runs in families.
Sons of alcoholics are four times more likely than other men to become alcoholics. Daughters of alcoholics are three times more likely than other women to become alcoholics. Women from alcoholic families are also more likely to marry alcoholic men, perpetuating the cycle of the disease. There are more than 28 million Americans who have grown up in alcoholic homes. It's not your fault.