Alcohol and Family Violence

Alcohol and Family Violence

Nadia Garcia

BSHS

406

November 4, 2015

Cynthia Hebron

Alcohol and Family Violence

Throughout the years, the family dynamics has changed; as far as how each family member interacts with one another over preferences or who share common interests with one another.  Although each family unit varies, family members must be cohesive this is where the family dynamics come into action. Difficult situations that families may encounter can cause a bit of imbalance within the family dynamics and are often described as dysfunctional, conflict of personal interest with one another can also be a factor or they disagree. Other times, families often argue over a family member who disapproves of what the other family member is doing with their life.  Family dynamics is are not always powered by common interest and goals but rather some other factors can play a significant role to what can lead to an imbalanced relationship with the family.  Connate factors such as gender, birth order, and other dispositions can play a role in how a family functions.  In this paper I will be discussing the following:  A historical perspective on how alcohol and family violence have been impacted by legislative changes, the impact of alcohol abuse on both the addicted individual and those around them, the impact of family violence on both the perpetrator of family violence and those exposed to family violence, intervention methods, which could be applied to this family in crises, and how the family rituals may affect the family member in crises.

A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

A historical perspective on how alcohol and family violence have been impacted by legislative is through the implementation of laws.  Alcoholic beverage taxes were a major source of revenues for the federal government throughout much of U.S. history (Korsmeyer, P.E., Kranzler, R.H., 2009).   As of 2008, the federal excise taxes and import duties continued to have a considerable effect on the prices of alcoholic beverages, but figured very lightly (less than 1%) in overall federal tax collections (Korsmeyer, P.E., Kranzler, R.H., 2009).  The legal drinking age in the U.S. is 21.  There are many individuals that consume alcohol beverages that can lead to serious repercussion and devastating outcomes.  In the Unites States, 17.6 million people abuse alcohol or qualify as alcohol dependent each year (McGoldrick,C., and Garcia P., 2011).  The life cycle plays a major role in how alcohol impacts an individual.  The effects of alcohol on society are devastating. For example, a child that has to grow up in a home where one or even both parents are alcoholics may be living in a deadly environment. "Children often find themselves blamed by an alcoholic parent. Their home is filled with conflict, confusion, and embarrassment. They often carry this feeling of disorder into their adult lives, which affects their own families, their co-workers, and society. Alcoholism in families has a vicious cycle, because children of alcoholics can suffer from many different emotional and mental disorders including addictions to alcohol, gambling, drugs, sex, and food.  State legislators have increasingly passed statues authorizing criminal justice officials to pursue domestic violence offenders more aggressively.  Alcohol-related problems are associated with specific cultural factors, relating to beliefs, attitudes, norms and expectancies about drinking (Social Issues Research Center, 2014).  Many of them go on to marry or live with alcoholics or abusers. Children of alcoholics may become alcoholics themselves sometimes because of heredity factors, but also because of the environment, they grew up in. More than half of domestic violence cases and as many as 90 percent of child abuse cases involve alcoholism, according to a survey by Priory Healthcare, a rehab center. Girls in alcoholic homes are four times more likely to suffer sexual abuse." (Shaw, Jerry Livestrong.com, 2012).   There are programs out there to help family members, friends and even co-workers to show how they can help someone that is dealing with the disease of alcoholism and try to be able to break the chain of alcoholism. The first step is to be able to admit that they have a problem and need the help. Alcoholism disease on children can impact that child’s life in many different ways.