They can t be committed marriage partners as their compulsion to drink makes them self-centered, irresponsible, and possibly abusive. Likewise, active alcoholics also have difficulties fulfilling their parental responsibilities. Alcohol-abusing mothers and fathers have been known to neglect or abuse their children. For a child, growing up with an alcoholic parent is a painful experience that usually leaves lasting emotional scars. The longer alcoholism goes without treatment, the greater the damage to the body.
Untreated alcoholism is potentially fatal.
The good news is that alcoholism is treatable. With the right kind of help, most alcoholics can learn to lead a deeply satisfying life without alcohol. However, sudden withdrawal from alcohol is difficult, painful and dangerous. Hazards include hallucinations, convulsions, and potentially life-threatening shifts in blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate. A safer way is medically supervised detoxification in a specialized hospital setting.