Effects of Alcoholism and Gambling On Families



Effects of Alcoholism and Gambling On Families

Introduction

Substance abuse and problem gambling are significant, ingrained issues faced by individuals, families and communities across world. Many healthcare institutions are committed to providing support for families impacted by problematic alcohol /other drug use, and gambling. Services are available for individuals affected by another's substance abuse or gambling, and for problematic substance users and gamblers themselves.

Most people know more than they think they know about problems with alcohol, other drugs and gambling. Studies show that when a worker has an alcohol or other drug problem, co-workers are likely to know about it. What you know can help you make decisions that help other workers, and protect you. There are also a lot of common myths about drinking, drug use and gambling. If you have the wrong information, how can you make the best decision about your own use of alcohol, drugs and gambling?

Alcoholism and Its Effect on the Family

According to the Random House Dictionary of the English Language (1966), alcoholism is defined as “ a diseased condition due to the excessive use of alcoholic beverages” (p.35) Silverstein in his book “Alcoholism” (1990) gives three criteria that the American Psychiatric Association listed for physicians to diagnose this disease (p.30) :

1. Physiological problems, such as hand tremors and blackouts

2. Psychological problems, such as an obsessive desire to drink

3. Behavioral problems that disrupt social or work life

Alcoholics can be of any age, background, income level, social, or ethnic group. Very often alcoholism affects highly educated people. Several studies even showed that people who lack motivation are less likely to become addicted to alcohol than highly motivated individuals (Silverstein, 1990). Alcoholism is also known as a family disease. Alcoholics may have young, teenage, or grown-up children; they have wives or husbands; they have brothers or sisters; they have parents or other relatives. An alcoholic can totally disrupt family life and cause harmful effects that can last a lifetime. According to U. S. Department of Health and Human Services and SAMHSA's (Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration) National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, seventy six million American adults have been exposed to alcoholism in the family. Alcoholism is responsible for more family problems than any other single cause. According to Silverstein (1990), one of every four families has problems with alcohol.

Each member of the family may be affected by alcohol differently. Parental alcoholism may affect the fetus even before a child is born. In pregnant women, alcohol is carried to all of the mother's organs and tissues, including the placenta, where it easily crosses through the membrane separating the maternal and fetal blood systems. When a pregnant woman drinks an alcoholic beverage, the concentration of alcohol in her unborn baby's bloodstream is the same level as her own. A pregnant woman who consumes alcohol during her pregnancy may give birth to a baby with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is one of the three top known causes of ...