Alcoholics are more likely than nonalcoholics to have an alcoholic father, mother, sibling, or other relative. In research studies, almost one-third of any sample of alcoholics has at least one parent who also was or is an alcoholic. Children of alcoholics are more at risk for alcoholism and other drug abuse than children of non-alcoholics. They are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop alcoholism than others. They are at increased risk for other drug use, especially as they approach late adolescence.
Alcoholism affects the entire family.
Living with an alcoholic in the family can contribute to stress for all members in the family. Each family member may be affected differently. Not all alcoholic families experience or react to this stress in the same way. Based on clinical observations and preliminary research, a relationship between parental alcoholism and child abuse is indicated in a large proportion of child abuse. Although several studies report very high rates of alcoholism among the parents of incest victims, much additional research in this area is needed.