| The children of alcoholic parents grow from infancy | | | | for the child, including alcoholism. These children with |
| through their adolescent years experiencing some | | | | the help of child and adolescent psychiatrists |
| difficult time. In America, one in five adults has lived with | | | | understand their own problems, and that they are not |
| an alcoholic while growing up. Their chances of | | | | responsible for the drinking problems of their parents. |
| becoming alcoholics are four times more than other | | | | As a part of the treatment program a group therapy |
| children. It is observed by psychiatrists that alcoholism | | | | with other youngsters is usually included. This reduces |
| runs in families, and in children of alcoholics. Children | | | | the isolation of being a child of an alcoholic. The |
| from such families are at a much greater risk for | | | | psychiatrist often works with the entire family, |
| having emotional problems than children whose | | | | particularly when the alcoholic parent has stopped |
| parents are not alcoholics. They experience some | | | | drinking, to help them develop healthier ways of relating |
| form of neglect or abuse and a child in such a family | | | | to one another. |
| may have a variety of problems. He may be mentally | | | | The basic goal for all alcohol rehab programs is to |
| and emotionally quite weak | | | | educate the alcohol user to the facts about chemical |
| Educational programs and mutual-help groups' | | | | dependency and the changes needed to live an |
| programs for children of alcoholics usually benefit them. | | | | alcohol-free lifestyle. Various behavioral alcohol rehab |
| This is available even if their parents are not receiving | | | | programs help alcohol rehab patients achieve and |
| treatment for alcoholism. Early professional help is also | | | | maintain prolonged abstinence. |
| important in preventing problems that are more serious | | | | |