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August 1986, Vol 140, No. 8 >
Article | August 1986

Children of Alcoholics FREE

Donald Ian Macdonald, MD; Sheila B. Blume, MD
[+] Author Affiliations

Accepted for publication Feb 3, 1986.

Reprint requests to the Alcoholism and Compulsive Gambling Programs, South Oaks Hospital, Amityville, NY 11701 (Dr Blume).


Am J Dis Child. 1986;140(8):750-754. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1986.02140220032025.
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• One of every eight American children is the child of a parent who has a past or present drinking problem. Children of alcoholic parents are at great risk. They are significantly more likely to develop addiction problems and a variety of mental health disorders. They live in homes with high levels of stress. Poor communication, permissiveness, undersocialization, neglect, and violence are common and can be truly devastating. Because of the stigma and denial associated with chemical dependency, these children often suffer in silence, unidentified and unassisted.

(AJDC 1986;140:750-754)

REFERENCES

1 +
Myers JK, Weissman MM, Tischler GL, et al:  Six-month prevalence of psychiatric disorders in three communities: 1980 to 1982 . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1984;;41:959-967.
2 +
Robins LN, Helzer JE, Weissman MM, et al:  Lifetime prevalence of specific psychiatric disorders in three sites . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1984;;41:949-958.
3 +
Russell M, Henderson C, Blume SB: Children of Alcoholics: A Review of the Literature . New York, Children of Alcoholics Foundation, 1984;.
4 +
DeLuca JR (ed): Fourth Special Report to the US Congress on Alcohol and Health From the Secretary of Health and Human Services . Rockville, Md, US Dept of Health and Human Services publication ADM 81-1080, 1981;.
5 +
Moore MH, Gerstein DR: Alcohol and Public Policy: Beyond the Shadow of Prohibition . Washington, DC, National Academy Press, 1981;.
6 +
Sokol RJ, Martier S, Ernhart C:  Identification of alcohol abuse in the prenatal clinic , in Chang NC, Chao HM (eds): Early Identification of Alcohol Abuse , National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism research monograph 17. US Dept of Health and Human Services, 1985;, pp 209-227.
7 +
Blume SB:  Early intervention: A clinician's guide to secondary prevention of alcoholism . Postgrad Med 1983;;74:146-149, 152, 154-155.
8 +
Report of the Conference on Research Needs and Opportunities for Children of Alcoholics . New York, Children of Alcoholics Foundation, 1984;.
9 +
Blume SB: Report of the Conference on Prevention Research for Children of Alcoholics . New York, Children of Alcoholics Foundation, 1985;.
10 +
American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs:  Fetal effects of maternal alcohol use . JAMA 1983;;249:2517-2521.
11 +
Lemoine P, Harousseau H, Borteyru JP, et al:  Les enfants de parents alcooliques: Anomalies observées: A propos de 127 cas . Quest Med 1968;;25:479-482.
12 +
Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources, 97th Cong (1982) (testimony of Edward M. Brandt, Jr, MD).
13 +
Russell M:  The epidemiology of alcohol-related birth defects , in Abel EL (ed): Fetal Alcohol Syndrome . Boca Raton, Fla, CRC Press Inc, 1982;, vol 2: Human Studies, pp 89-126.
14 +
Golden NL, Sokol RJ, Kuhnert BR, et al:  Maternal alcohol use and infant development . Pediatrics 1982;;70:931-934.
15 +
Kumpfer K, DeMarsh J: Family-based substance abuse prevention, part II. J Child Contemp Soc, in press.
16 +
Cotton NS:  The familial incidence of alcoholism . J Stud Alcohol 1979;;40:89-116.
17 +
Goodwin DW:  Alcoholism and genetics: The sins of the fathers . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1985;;42:171-174.
18 +
Cloninger CR:  Genetic and environmental factors in the development of alcoholism . J Psychiatr Treat Eval 1983;;5:487-496.
19 +
Schuckit MA, Goodwin DA, Winokur G:  A study of alcoholism in half siblings . Am J Psychiatry 1972;;128:1132-1136.
20 +
Cloninger CR, Bohman M, Sigvardsson S:  Inheritance of alcohol abuse: Cross-fostering analysis of adopted men . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1981;;38:861-868.
21 +
Cadoret RJ, Cain CA, Grove WM:  Development of alcoholism in adoptees raised apart from alcoholic biologic relatives . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1980;;37:561-563.
22 +
Bohman M, Sigvardsson S, Cloninger CR:  Maternal inheritance of alcohol abuse: Cross-fostering analysis of adopted women . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1981;;38:965-969.
23 +
Schuckit MA:  A prospective study of genetic markers in alcoholism , in Hanin I, Usden E (eds): Biologic Markers in Psychiatry and Neurology . Elmsford, NY, Pergamon Press Inc, 1983;, pp 445-454.
24 +
Schuckit MA:  Self-rating of alcohol intoxication by young men with and without family histories of alcoholism . J Stud Alcohol 1980;; 41:242-249.
25 +
Vogel F, Schalt E, Kruger J:  The electroencephalogram (EEG) as a research tool in human behavior genetics: Psychological examinations in healthy males with various inherited EEG variants . Hum Genet 1979;;47:1-46.
26 +
Begleiter H, Porjesz B, Bihari B, et al:  Event-related brain potentials in boys at risk for alcoholism . Science 1984;;225:1493-1496.
27 +
Hecht M:  Children of alcoholics are children at risk . Am J Nurs 1973;;73:1764-1767.
28 +
Pittman DJ, Gordon CW: Revolving Door: A Study of the Chronic Police Case Inebriate . Glencoe, Ill, The Free Press, 1958;.
29 +
Park P:  Problem drinking and role deviation: A study in incipient alcoholism , in Pittman DJ, Snyder CR (eds): Society, Culture and Drinking Patterns . New York, John Wiley & Sons Inc, 1962;, pp 431-454.
30 +
Booz-Allen & Hamilton: An Assessment of the Needs of and Resources for Children of Alcoholic Parents . National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Rockville, Md, US Dept of Health and Human Services, 1974;.
31 +
Vaillant GE, Milofsky ES:  The etiology of alcoholism . Am Psychol 1982;;37:494-503.
32 +
Black C: It Will Never Happen to Me . Colorado Springs, Colo, MAC Publishing Inc, 1982;.
33 +
Behling DW:  Alcohol abuse as encountered in 51 instances of reported child abuse . Clin Pediatr 1979;;18:87-91.
34 +
Server JC, Janzen C:  Contraindications to reconstitution of sexually abusive families . Child Welfare 1982;;61:279-288.
35 +
Eberle PE:  Alcohol abusers and non-users: A discriminant analysis of two subgroups of batterers . J Health Soc Behav 1982;;23:260-271.
36 +
Johnson VE: I'll Quit Tomorrow . New York, Harper & Row Publishers Inc, 1980;.
37 +
Williams M:  Research on children of alcoholics: Expanding the knowledge: GWU researchers focus on family environment . Alcohol Health Res World 1984;;8:6-10.
38 +
Wegscheider D, Wegscheider S: Family Illness: Chemical Dependency . Crystal, Minn, TFL Press, 1978;.
39 +
Wegscheider S: Another Chance: Hope and Health for the Alcoholic Family . Palo Alto, Calif, Science and Behavior Books, 1981;.
40 +
Ackerman R: Children of Alcoholics . Holmes Beach, Fla, Learning Publications, 1983;.
41 +
Al-Anon Family Groups: Youth and the Alcoholic Parent . New York, Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters Inc, 1979;.
42 +
Ewing JA:  Detecting alcoholism: The CAGE questionnaire . JAMA 1984;;252:1905-1907.

Figures

Tables

Interactive Graphics

Video

Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

References

1 +
Myers JK, Weissman MM, Tischler GL, et al:  Six-month prevalence of psychiatric disorders in three communities: 1980 to 1982 . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1984;;41:959-967.
2 +
Robins LN, Helzer JE, Weissman MM, et al:  Lifetime prevalence of specific psychiatric disorders in three sites . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1984;;41:949-958.
3 +
Russell M, Henderson C, Blume SB: Children of Alcoholics: A Review of the Literature . New York, Children of Alcoholics Foundation, 1984;.
4 +
DeLuca JR (ed): Fourth Special Report to the US Congress on Alcohol and Health From the Secretary of Health and Human Services . Rockville, Md, US Dept of Health and Human Services publication ADM 81-1080, 1981;.
5 +
Moore MH, Gerstein DR: Alcohol and Public Policy: Beyond the Shadow of Prohibition . Washington, DC, National Academy Press, 1981;.
6 +
Sokol RJ, Martier S, Ernhart C:  Identification of alcohol abuse in the prenatal clinic , in Chang NC, Chao HM (eds): Early Identification of Alcohol Abuse , National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism research monograph 17. US Dept of Health and Human Services, 1985;, pp 209-227.
7 +
Blume SB:  Early intervention: A clinician's guide to secondary prevention of alcoholism . Postgrad Med 1983;;74:146-149, 152, 154-155.
8 +
Report of the Conference on Research Needs and Opportunities for Children of Alcoholics . New York, Children of Alcoholics Foundation, 1984;.
9 +
Blume SB: Report of the Conference on Prevention Research for Children of Alcoholics . New York, Children of Alcoholics Foundation, 1985;.
10 +
American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs:  Fetal effects of maternal alcohol use . JAMA 1983;;249:2517-2521.
11 +
Lemoine P, Harousseau H, Borteyru JP, et al:  Les enfants de parents alcooliques: Anomalies observées: A propos de 127 cas . Quest Med 1968;;25:479-482.
12 +
Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources, 97th Cong (1982) (testimony of Edward M. Brandt, Jr, MD).
13 +
Russell M:  The epidemiology of alcohol-related birth defects , in Abel EL (ed): Fetal Alcohol Syndrome . Boca Raton, Fla, CRC Press Inc, 1982;, vol 2: Human Studies, pp 89-126.
14 +
Golden NL, Sokol RJ, Kuhnert BR, et al:  Maternal alcohol use and infant development . Pediatrics 1982;;70:931-934.
15 +
Kumpfer K, DeMarsh J: Family-based substance abuse prevention, part II. J Child Contemp Soc, in press.
16 +
Cotton NS:  The familial incidence of alcoholism . J Stud Alcohol 1979;;40:89-116.
17 +
Goodwin DW:  Alcoholism and genetics: The sins of the fathers . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1985;;42:171-174.
18 +
Cloninger CR:  Genetic and environmental factors in the development of alcoholism . J Psychiatr Treat Eval 1983;;5:487-496.
19 +
Schuckit MA, Goodwin DA, Winokur G:  A study of alcoholism in half siblings . Am J Psychiatry 1972;;128:1132-1136.
20 +
Cloninger CR, Bohman M, Sigvardsson S:  Inheritance of alcohol abuse: Cross-fostering analysis of adopted men . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1981;;38:861-868.
21 +
Cadoret RJ, Cain CA, Grove WM:  Development of alcoholism in adoptees raised apart from alcoholic biologic relatives . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1980;;37:561-563.
22 +
Bohman M, Sigvardsson S, Cloninger CR:  Maternal inheritance of alcohol abuse: Cross-fostering analysis of adopted women . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1981;;38:965-969.
23 +
Schuckit MA:  A prospective study of genetic markers in alcoholism , in Hanin I, Usden E (eds): Biologic Markers in Psychiatry and Neurology . Elmsford, NY, Pergamon Press Inc, 1983;, pp 445-454.
24 +
Schuckit MA:  Self-rating of alcohol intoxication by young men with and without family histories of alcoholism . J Stud Alcohol 1980;; 41:242-249.
25 +
Vogel F, Schalt E, Kruger J:  The electroencephalogram (EEG) as a research tool in human behavior genetics: Psychological examinations in healthy males with various inherited EEG variants . Hum Genet 1979;;47:1-46.
26 +
Begleiter H, Porjesz B, Bihari B, et al:  Event-related brain potentials in boys at risk for alcoholism . Science 1984;;225:1493-1496.
27 +
Hecht M:  Children of alcoholics are children at risk . Am J Nurs 1973;;73:1764-1767.
28 +
Pittman DJ, Gordon CW: Revolving Door: A Study of the Chronic Police Case Inebriate . Glencoe, Ill, The Free Press, 1958;.
29 +
Park P:  Problem drinking and role deviation: A study in incipient alcoholism , in Pittman DJ, Snyder CR (eds): Society, Culture and Drinking Patterns . New York, John Wiley & Sons Inc, 1962;, pp 431-454.
30 +
Booz-Allen & Hamilton: An Assessment of the Needs of and Resources for Children of Alcoholic Parents . National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Rockville, Md, US Dept of Health and Human Services, 1974;.
31 +
Vaillant GE, Milofsky ES:  The etiology of alcoholism . Am Psychol 1982;;37:494-503.
32 +
Black C: It Will Never Happen to Me . Colorado Springs, Colo, MAC Publishing Inc, 1982;.
33 +
Behling DW:  Alcohol abuse as encountered in 51 instances of reported child abuse . Clin Pediatr 1979;;18:87-91.
34 +
Server JC, Janzen C:  Contraindications to reconstitution of sexually abusive families . Child Welfare 1982;;61:279-288.
35 +
Eberle PE:  Alcohol abusers and non-users: A discriminant analysis of two subgroups of batterers . J Health Soc Behav 1982;;23:260-271.
36 +
Johnson VE: I'll Quit Tomorrow . New York, Harper & Row Publishers Inc, 1980;.
37 +
Williams M:  Research on children of alcoholics: Expanding the knowledge: GWU researchers focus on family environment . Alcohol Health Res World 1984;;8:6-10.
38 +
Wegscheider D, Wegscheider S: Family Illness: Chemical Dependency . Crystal, Minn, TFL Press, 1978;.
39 +
Wegscheider S: Another Chance: Hope and Health for the Alcoholic Family . Palo Alto, Calif, Science and Behavior Books, 1981;.
40 +
Ackerman R: Children of Alcoholics . Holmes Beach, Fla, Learning Publications, 1983;.
41 +
Al-Anon Family Groups: Youth and the Alcoholic Parent . New York, Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters Inc, 1979;.
42 +
Ewing JA:  Detecting alcoholism: The CAGE questionnaire . JAMA 1984;;252:1905-1907.

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