There is a large body of research showing significant associations between parental alcohol use disorders and a range of problems in family life and functioning. These problems include, but are not limited to, parent and family conflict and violence, parental separation and divorce, parent mental health and other substance use problems, economic problems, disrupted parenting, parent-child relationship problems and a range of mental health and cognitive disturbances in offspring.
Source: Review from the Australia Government Department of health and ageing. National Drug and Alcohol research Centre University of NSW 2014. Delyse M. Hutchinson, Richard P Mattick, Danya Braunstein, Elizabeth Maloney, Judy Wilson NDARC Report number 325
Are you troubled by someone's drinking?
There is a solution; families and friends do not have to suffer because of someone's drinking.
Al-Anon encourages helping agencies and community support groups to pose the following 20 questions to the people they come in contact with.
The questions are designed to help you decide whether or not you need Al-Anon:
1. Do you worry about how much someone else drinks?
2. Do you have money problems because of some else's drinking?
3. Do you tell lies to cover up for someone else's drinking?
4. Do you feel that if the drinker loved you, he or she would stop drinking to please you?
5. Do you blame the drinker's behaviour on his or her companions?
6. Are plans frequently upset or cancelled or meals delayed because of the drinker?
7. Do you make threats, such as, "if you don't stop drinking, I'll leave you"?
8. Do you secretly try to smell the drinker's breath?
9. Are you afraid to upset someone for fear it will set off a drinking bout?
10. Have you been hurt or embarrassed by a drinker's behaviour?
11. Are holidays and gatherings spoiled because of drinking?
12. Have you considered calling the police for help in fear of abuse?
13. Do you search for hidden alcohol?
14. Do you often ride in a car with a driver who has been drinking?
15. Have you refused social invitations out of fear or anxiety?
16. Do you sometimes feel like a failure when you think of the lengths you have gone to, to control the drinker?
17. Do you think that if the drinker stopped drinking, your problems would be solved?
18. Do you ever threaten to hurt yourself to scare the drinker?
19. Do you feel angry, confused or depressed most of the time?
20. Do you feel there is no one who understands your problems?
If you have answered yes to three or more of these questions, Al-Anon or Alateen may help.
