Individual Research Report

Candidate name: T. Vibha

Candidate number:

School name: Arsha Vidya Mandir

School code: IN710

Component code: 2

Topic: Family

Word count:

Question: To what extent does addiction to alcohol affect family and children?
Introduction:

Excessive consumption of alcohol for long periods of time by a family member can
negatively and severely affect the household they live in. The consumer gets themselves into
a lot of physical and mental damage too, whereas families will have to bear the emotional
impact.

One laying hands on the beverage bottle is affected by biological, environmental, social,
psychological factors and more. When a family member misuses alcohol, disruption of peace
and happiness within the family is commonly noticed. The consequences are troubling, when
we scrutinize family dysfunction and disharmony.

This report aims at studying the effect of alcohol addiction on the other family members.

Why I chose this topic:

I chose to explore this topic because it is a large-scale issue, affecting many families,
globally. Understanding and shedding light on this issue is very momentous to raise
awareness and to reduce addictions of alcohol creating a warm home for everyone.

Cause and consequence:

There are many causes known to contribute to alcohol addiction - biological, psychological,
and social factors are some. Biological factors indicate genetics. If the person has family
history of alcohol abuse, they're more likely to pick it up. Certain chemicals in the brain make
you vulnerable and addicted to this substance. Social factors suggest your culture, your
family, your beliefs, environmental influence etc. Children and spouses living/growing up in
alcohol induced households pick the habit easily. And finally, physiological factors highlight
how a person handles or reacts to a certain amount of alcohol. Some may be able to regulate
themselves, while the majority falls into the same toxic cycle.

The consequences of such addiction are many. Not only does it adversely affect the
consumer, it also affects people around them and family members. Some of which are:
financial burden and emotional and psychological impact on the family members. In
households where there are parents who take on alcohol, the roles of the family members get
switched, forcing children to take up the role of adults in the family, causing many negative
emotional effects.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry suggests that these feelings may
include: anger, anxiety, confusion, depression, embarrassment and trouble forming close
relationships with other peers their age.1

1 https://www.verywellmind.com/what-happens-to-the-familys-compassion-for-alcoholics-3862542
Global perspectives:

UK:

In the UK, there’s a detrimental impact of alcohol on families. “Around 200,000 children in
England (out of around 9,100,000 of them 2) live with an alcohol dependent parent.” Children
living with alcoholic parents go through severe anxiety, depression and abuse, which leads to
disrupted homes, which also affect their academics and social skills. “The UK charity
Alcohol Change UK states that nearly one in five children in the UK are affected by this. 3
Spouses are also affected by alcoholic husbands/wives going through shame and peer
pressure, sharing households with abusive, alcoholic spouses, wasting hard earned money on
substances.

A report by the UK charity Refuge found that 29% of women experiencing domestic violence
reported their partner's drinking as a contributing factor. 4 spouses who have to deal with their
alcoholic partner do not often communicate with their partner, as the alcoholic might not
always be in the sane, sober minds to discuss about significant and consequential matters.
Trust is also shattered from the broken promises, lies, cheating done during misuse. The
spouses might also drop out from social activities and events, mainly being apprehensive
about relatives and people judging them because of their partner's misuse.” Spouses are
uniquely dependent on one another, so if one spouse is misusing alcohol, the other is likely to
feel the associated problems.5.

But seeking help is the most important yet the hardest part. It is absolutely necessary and
critical to do so, as families affected can attempt to set free and move towards a very healing,
happy life. The government is also working hard to get this situation under control.
The UK Government’s updated Drug Strategy commits the Government to providing greater
support for families affected by alcohol and other substance misuse.6

USA:
The Alcohol-Related Disease Impact (ARDI) application estimates that each year there are
more than 178,000 deaths (approximately 120,000 male deaths and 59,000 female deaths)
7
attributable to excessive alcohol use in the United States.

2
Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2023/24 - Explore education
statistics - GOV.UK (explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk)
3
The Alcohol Change Report | Alcohol Change UK
4
Refuge, the largest UK domestic abuse organisation for women
5

“https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcohol/support-recovery/family#:~:text=According
%20to%20the%20National%20Institute,Domestic%20violence
6
Families affected by harmful drinking | Alcohol Change UK
Along with this, studies have also showed how binge drinking affects the consumer and
his/her surroundings severely.

Globally, alcohol misuse is the seventh-leading risk factor for premature death and
disability.8 This highlights the drastic conundrum that is caused by the misuse.
Approximately, 15 million people in the U.S. (out of the 333.3million citizens) struggle with
AUD (alcohol use disorder) impacting an estimated 48 million adults (spouses, partners, and
adult children) according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
(NCADD).9 This translates 1 in 7 adults are influenced by this issue. So many people
struggling with themselves, making it difficult for their families to cope up with is a big
social challenge, which cannot be ignored

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that an estimated
16 million children in the United States live with a parent who has an alcohol use disorder. 10

Living with an alcoholic parent causes high negative emotions like depression, social anxiety
and more at a very young age. Additionally, children whose parents misuse alcohol or other
substances can suffer from a wide range of negative academic and cognitive effects.11

National perspectives:

Alcohol addiction in India significantly impacts families, affecting their social, economic,
and emotional well-being. According to a study, “problems of alcohol abuse have been
associated with increased suffering to the family members, which contributes to a high level
of interpersonal conflict, domestic violence, financial difficulties, and psychological
disturbances.”12 Another study finds that alcohol is the most commonly used substance by
Indians.13

Approximately 33% of Indian women who have experienced spousal violence reported that
their husbands were under the influence of alcohol during the incidents, according to National
Family Health Survey. 14This alarming insight shows the critical domestic violence women in
our country go through. Indian Journal of Psychiatric Nursing highlights “The wives covered
7
Understanding Alcohol’s Adverse Impact on Health | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism (NIAAA) (nih.gov)
8
Understanding Alcohol’s Adverse Impact on Health | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism (NIAAA) (nih.gov)
9
Alcoholism Statistics You Need to Know | Talbott Recovery (talbottcampus.com)
10
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism (NIAAA) (nih.gov)
11
Children of Alcoholics: Growing Up with an Alcoholic Parent (americanaddictioncenters.org)
12
Thieme E-Journals - Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU / Full Text (thieme-connect.com)
13
Is India on the brink of a drug and alcohol abuse crisis? – DW – 12/27/2022
14
Domestic violence in indian women: status of husbands’ alcohol consumption as a determinant factor |
European Journal of Public Health | Oxford Academic (oup.com)
up partners' alcohol dependence, took on their responsibilities, withdrew or distanced
themselves from friends and family. “15

Children growing up in Indian households where alcohol is everywhere, have their strong
surge of curiosity sparks, resulting in this addiction as they grow up, causing havoc to
everyone around.

Alcohol-related health issues contribute significantly to the healthcare burden, with liver
cirrhosis and other alcohol-related diseases being prevalent. “ 16Alcohol related harm is also
exacerbated by other accompanying factors including poverty, malnutrition, infectious
diseases and more a dangerous environment.” And for the treatment of high alcohol usage in
India, international journal of drug policy says that the treatment of these conditions will
impose an economic burden of INR 3127 billion on the health system. 17 This figure is
estimated for the time period spanning from 2011 to 2050.
Alcohol also instigates violence on family members. Domestic violence for both the kids and
spouses exits in a large number of sections, all throughout India. According to the National
Family Health Survey domestic violence rates show regional differences: around 40% of
women in Bihar reported experiencing spousal violence, while states like Karnataka and
West Bengal have reported rates close to 20-30%areas, domestic violence incidence is
generally higher than in urban areas (around 31.6% compared to 24.2%)18

All of the above largely affect the other family members, causing severe emotional impacts.

Possible scenarios:

Along with high risks of chronic health issues like heart and liver issues alcohol consumption
mentally takes a toll on the other family members too, resulting in increasing rates of suicide,
depression and anxiety.
Alcohol can also lead to a tight financial space, leading to job loss, debt, and overall financial
instability on the household.

It is also important to note that there is a high chance that children of alcoholics become
alcoholics themselves.it leads to a generational cycle of alcoholism, abuse and difficulties.
Many children and spouses tend to hide their real home life from the outside world, from the
fear of judgment and shame. They go through emotional burden, as they deny and downplay
the severity of the incidents happening at home due to overuse of alcohol, to seem normal.

Possible course of actions:

Alcoholics should use the help of therapists, addiction specialists or doctors to properly
control their problem. Warding off colds and speeding up healing are a helpful side effect of

15
Indian Journal of Psychiatric Nursing (lww.com)
16
Alcohol problems and responses: challenges for India: Journal of Substance Use: Vol 5, No 1
(tandfonline.com)
17
Health impact and economic burden of alcohol consumption in India - ScienceDirect
18
Latest NFHS-5 Data Shows 30% of Indian Women Face Domestic Violence...And That's Just The Reported
Number! (womensweb.in)
maintaining health exercise regular fitness routines balanced dieting stress reduction helpful
as well.

Families are essential in helping members who have difficulty with alcoholism. Crucial
actions include providing emotional support and motivating the addicted individual to get
treatment. Families can be empowered to offer better assistance provided they are educated
and aware of the nature of addiction. Additionally, family counseling helps promote a better
family environment by targeting the psychological and emotional effects of addiction.

Through policies governing the availability and cost of alcohol, prohibitions on promotion,
and health effects, governments may have a big influence. Two strategies to reduce
consumption are implementing stringent legislation governing the sale and promotion of
alcohol and launching national awareness campaigns about the risks of alcohol addiction. By
making more reasonably priced, excellent rehabilitation and support programs available, we
can make sure that people who need them can get the tools they need to live well.

International cooperation is crucial on an international scale. Countries should work together

on research and share best practices for combating alcohol addiction. Implementing global
health policies aimed at reducing alcohol consumption and addiction can create a unified
front against this issue. Developing international support networks can provide resources and
aid to those affected by alcohol addiction worldwide, promoting recovery and well-being
across borders.

Evaluation of sources:

The data collected overall is credible, which contains practical insights, obtained from
academic and authoritative sources. Although these sources are reliable, some do require
further investigations. As for the timelines of the articles, most of them have a particular date.
Some of these articles are dated as 2023 which is a year ago and some go even to 2016.
Majority of the statistics and data provided are from reliable sources and have been certified.
All things considered, this report has reliable facts and information.

Conclusion:
Alcohol addiction profoundly impacts families, causing emotional, psychological, and
financial stress, disrupting relationships, and leading to domestic violence and neglect.
Children suffer developmental and behavioral issues, and spouses face shame, anxiety, and
financial hardship. Governments and international bodies must implement strict regulations,
raise awareness, and provide accessible rehabilitation services. Families need support
systems, education, and counseling to cope. This research has shifted my perspective from
seeing alcohol addiction as a personal issue to understanding its extensive societal impact.
Addressing it collectively at all levels can foster healthier environments, reduce prevalence,
and promote overall well-being and family harmony.

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