Bshs 406 Alcohol and Family Violence

Alcohol and Family Violence

Joseph Perrotti

BSHS/406

April 7, 2016

Alcohol and Family Violence

This paper will look at the effects of alcohol and family violence have on the lifecycle. The paper will dissect the history of both alcohol and family violence in an attempt to see how both correlate. The paper will look at the effects alcohol has on the individual dependent on it, but will also look at how it effects the family and friends of this individual. Next, this paper will look at the effects of family violence on both the perpetrator and the family that has been exposed to it. Finally, the paper will then look at the legislative changes that have been prompted with the reality of alcohol and family violence and the intervention methods that can be used to help a family in crisis.

The Problem

Alcohol

Alcohol abuse and family violence are two serious problems that occur daily in the united states. Alcohol is socially acceptable and even legal in the United States and even a part of everyday life (Alcohol and the Family: Breaking the chain, 1990). Yet, studies say that over 11 million employed people in the United States admit they are heavy drinkers (Nighswonger, 2000). This was defined as having five or more drinks on five or more days during a 30 day period (Nighswonger, 2000) 21 million Americans are alcoholics with an astonishing number of 3 million of them, being under the age of 18 (Alcohol and the Family: Breaking the chain, 1990).

If these numbers are not enough to make individuals think, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), excessive drinking causes approximately 88,000 deaths per year. In the United States alcoholism is the third leading lifestyle-related cause of death (NCADD, 2016). According to Alcohol and the Family: Breaking the chain (1990) of all the accidental deaths, homicides, and suicides half involve the use of alcohol. When it comes to alcohol use between the ages of 15 to 24 year olds, alcohol is the number one killer. Most Spousal or family abuse cases involve the use of alcohol (Alcohol and the Family: Breaking the chain, 1990).

Family Violence

With alcohol abuse being a serious issue, another can be closely related to it. This issue is family violence. Between the years 2003 to 2012, family violence accounted 21 percent of all violent victimizations concerning non-fatal offenses (U.S. Department of Justice, 2014). These crimes as defined by the United States Department of Justice include rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated and simple assault. Seventy-six percent