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1. ALCOHOLISM
2. What is alcoholism? A disease that causes a person to lose control of his or her drinking behavior.
Person is both physically and emotionally addicted to alcohol.
An alcoholic craves alcohol
An alcoholic also suffers painful physical symptoms with they don’t have alcohol
3. STATISTICS 18 million Americans are alcoholics
11 million children currently live in a home with an alcoholic
20% of adults have lived with an alcoholic at some point while growing up
About half of all American adults have some family history of alcoholism
75% of domestic violence cases involve alcohol
4. Warning signs of Alcoholism: Drinking to deal with anger, frustration, and disappointment
Changing friends, personal habits, and interests
Being defensive about drinking
Feeling depressed
Drinking more for the same high (tolerance)
Drinking alone
Drinking to get drunk
Experiencing memory lapses as a result of drinking
5. Risk Factors of Alcoholism: Age
Teens who start drinking before 15 are 4 times more likely to become an alcoholic
Social Environment
Peer pressure, advertising, and desire to fit in can influence a person’s decision to drink
Genetics
Alcoholism tends to run in families
Male children of alcoholic fathers have a 25% risk of becoming alcoholic
Risk-taking Personality
Impulsive personalities add to the risk of alcoholism
6. Stages of Alcoholism … PROBLEM DRINKING
Drinker cannot drink alcohol in moderation or at appropriate times
TOLERANCE
Drinker needs more alcohol to produce the same effect
DEPENDENCE
Drinker’s body needs alcohol to function normally
ALCOHOLISM - ADDICTION
Drinker has lost control of his or her drinking behavior
7. Family Roles:
Victim – chemically dependent person
Chief Enabler – closet emotionally to victim
Scapegoat – problem child
Family Hero – caretaker of the family
Lost Child – forgotten child
**Not ALL of these roles necessarily will be seen in every family with an alcoholic, however most often family members will take on a role.
8. Treating an Alcoholic … Individual will likely go through withdrawal
Need support from family/friends
Treatment programs
Inpatient and outpatient programs
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
Al-Anon – designed to help give advice to the family members of alcoholics
Alateen – specifically designed to help teens cope with an alcoholic in their family
Check the phone book or internet for local agencies that can provide help