The document discusses the long term effects of growing up with alcoholic parents. It states that approximately 20% of children in the US grow up with alcoholic family members. Some negative effects include an increased risk of substance abuse, attachment and trust issues, anxiety, depression, and witnessing domestic violence. Treatment for adults who grew up with alcoholic parents should address these types of issues and give insight into how to help these individuals. Further research is still needed on effective treatment plans.

1. Presented by: Jeanette MirelesThe Long Term Effects of Adult Children of Alcoholics

2. In 1998, the National Institute on Drug Abuse stated that in the US there are about 20 percent of children that grow up in families that are considered alcoholics (Johnson, 2002, p. 371). Adult Children of Alcoholics

3. Negative EffectsIncrease Risk of Alcohol Abuse There may be an abundance of research and statistics on ACOA but there is not enough significant to show they are at a higher risk of becoming an alcoholicNeglect and MaltreatmentWhen a child is neglected many needs are not met therefore resulting, in possibly numerous negative consequences similar to attachment, mistrust and commitment issues

4. Negative Effects (contd.)Attachment, Mistrust and Commitment IssuesAfter being neglected there tends to be little trust toward the person neglected. In turn that will effect ones intrapersonal skills and relationships in the future.Cohesions and CommunicationBased off a study by Larson & Reedy (2004), it is said that there is a direct negative effect on the process of a family of those who have alcoholics in the family

5. Negative Effects (contd.)Violence and AngerIt is common for children to witness inter-parental violence due the fact alcoholics can be violent at times more so if they were under the influence.Anxiety and DepressionThere are numerous studies that will show a significant amount of research that would lead to a commonality between adult depressive disorder and growing up in alcoholic families (Nicholas & Rasmussen, 2006, p. 46).

6. Negative Effects (contd.)Mental Health ProblemsThere can be life-long impairments along with neurocognitive and socioemotional development if diagnosed with alcohol spectrum disorder (O’Connor & Whaley, 2007, para. 1).

7. ConclusionThe universal issues that seem to be common amongst ACOA are increased risk of substance use, neglect and maltreatment, violence and anger, anxiety, depression, attachment problems along with mistrust and commitment problems. It was also common for the alcoholic parents to not know the whereabouts of their own children

8. Further Development and RelevancyTo further research in this topic we can simply ask “what treatment plans benefit adults who as a child had alcoholic parents?”To be able to determine what issues could be acquired from such an experience gives great insight to being able to help or treat those children of alcoholics.

9. ReferencesGruber, K., & Fleetwood, T. (2004). In-Home Continuing Care Services for Substance Use Affected Families. Substance Use & Misuse, 39(9), 1379-1403. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.libproxy.edmc.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pbh&AN=13872058&site=ehost-liveJohnson, P. (2002). Predictors of Famly Functioning Within Alcoholic Families. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 24(2), 371-384. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.libproxy.edmc.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pbh&AN=11304492&site=ehost-liveLarson, J., & Reedy, B. (2004). Family Process as a Mediator of the Negative Effects of Parental Alcoholism on Young Adult Dating Relatioships. American Journal of Family Therapy, 32, 289-304. doi: 10.1080/01926180490454665Moe, J., Wade, W., & Johnson, J. L. (2007). Resilience of Children of Substance Users: In their Own Words. Substance Use & Misuse, 42, 381-398. doi: 10.1080/10826080601142147.Nicholas, K., & Rasmussen, E. (2006). Childhood Abusive and Supportive Experiences, Inter-Parental Violence, Parental Alcohol Use: Prediction of Young Adult Depressive Symptoms and Aggression. Journal of Family Violence, 21(1), 43-61. doi: 10.1007/s10896-005-9001-3.O’Connor, M. J., & Whaley, S. E. (2007). Brief Intervention for Alcohol Use by Pregnant Women. American Journal of Public Health, 97(2), 252-258. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2005.077222Ross, L., & Hill, E. (2001). Drinking and Parental Unpredictability among Adult Children of Alcoholics: A Pilot Study. Substance Use & Misuse, 36(5). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.libproxy.edmc.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pbh&AN=8533611&site=ehost-live