Children Of Alcoholics

11 Pages 2720 Words

Children of Alcoholics


I’m doing a paper on Children of Alcoholic parents, mostly because I grew up in a family where alcohol was always present. Whether I was at the bar with my Mom or it was at home; it was always around. I think by researching this subject and writing this paper will help me to have a better understanding of my past and the things that I do now days because of the alcoholism that I grew up around. It was a very hard upbringing and I can easily relate to what I’m writing about. Below, I will be discussing the stress caused by alcoholic parents or family members, the different life experiences, statistics as well as the domestic violence that goes on in the family from the effect of Alcohol.

What is Alcohol? Alcohol is a drug, just as barbiturates and tranquilizers are drugs. It is a mood altering substance, a potent depressant of the central nervous system “aka” a “downer.” Unlike most drugs, alcohol doesn’t require a prescription and it is legal for those of the age of 21. People of this age can buy beer, wine, and distilled spirits at liquor and grocery stores. Almost every town that you travel through large and small is a number of nightclubs, bars where liquor is sold by the drink. Americans drink at parties and family gatherings. They drink to celebrate, to forget their troubles, and to unwind after a hard day at work. From every side we are bombarded with the idea that drinking is the sexy and friendly thing to do (Porterfield, 1985). In fact about 100 million, or two thirds, of the people in this country drink alcohol regularly and forget that the chemical within the drink is very addictive (Porterfield, 1985).
What is Alcoholism? Alcoholism is a condition in which individuals drink alcohol habitually and to excess. The drinkers continue to consume beer, wine, and whiskey even though this results in serious harm to their physical and mental health as well as damaging the...