In This Article
Is My Child an Alcoholic? Signs to Look For
While many adults can consume alcohol without negative consequences, some develop alcoholism as a result.
Alcoholism is also known as alcohol use disorder (AUD). This is an inability to control drinking due to a physical and emotional dependence on alcohol.
If you suspect that one of your family members or a loved one is an alcoholic, you are not alone.
Approximately 15 million Americans have AUD. Adolescents can be diagnosed with AUD as well, and in 2018, an estimated 401,000 adolescents in the U.S. had AUD.
The symptoms of alcoholism include:
- Drinking more or longer than intended
- Inability to cut down or stop drinking
- Spending a lot of time drinking or suffering the after-effects of drinking
- Cravings or a strong need, or urge, to drink
- Drinking or being sick from drinking that interfered with taking care of responsibilities
- Continuing to drink even though it was causing trouble with family or friends
- No longer engaging in activities that were important or pleasurable in favor of drinking
- Engaging in risky behavior while drinking
- Depression or anxiety
- Lapses in memory of ‘blackouts’
- Developing a high alcohol tolerance
- Withdrawal symptoms
If your loved one has any of these symptoms, they may have a drinking problem. The more symptoms they have, the more serious the problem is.
Tips: How to Deal with an Alcoholic Child
The following are some things you should do if you suspect your child is an alcoholic:
- Talk about the issue when they are in a good mood. That means probably the afternoon, since in the mornings they may be hungover and may drink in the evenings.
- When you confront them, do so compassionately. Allow them to voice their feelings. Avoid accusatory or judgmental language.
- Be patient. If they push back, be prepared to follow up with them another time to show you are serious.
- Research beforehand possible treatment options in detail. This way, you are ready to answer any questions or concerns they may have.
- Encourage your child to attend groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, where they can receive support from like-minded peers.
- Consider family therapy. This is a form of therapy that addresses the entire family dynamic. The goal is to treat the alcoholism by improving family communication.
- Talk to the rest of the family about your child's alcohol abuse. Ask them to support your child by encouraging them to get help and not enabling them.
You should express your concerns directly with your child and encourage them to get help.
For best results, approach them in a private setting when they are more likely to speak openly. Encourage them to seek treatment for their alcohol problem as soon as possible.
Remember to practice self-care to protect your well-being so that you can continue to provide emotional support to your loved one and your family.
Consider attending a support group for family members such as Al-Anon to get advice and support from others who have experienced similar experiences.
My Child Is an Alcoholic, What Do I Do About Enablers?
An enabler, also called a codependent, is someone who is in a relationship with an alcoholic whose behavior hinders treatment acceptance and recovery efforts.
Enabling behavior includes:
- Taking over chores or duties from the alcoholic
- Drinking or using other drugs with them
- Giving them money
- Bailing them out of jail
- Lying or making excuses to others to cover for them
Enablers are often close friends and family, making them difficult to identify, avoid, and confront. Moreover, enablers often think they are helping and don’t realize that their behavior is dangerous to someone with AUD.
Al-Anon suggests that you set firm boundaries with the alcoholic to learn they cannot depend on you for their responsibilities. If you can, confront any enablers and explain how their behavior is harmful to your child.
Request that the enabler either stop the enabling behaviors or, if you can limit their contact with the alcoholic until another point in the future when they are in recovery.
The Differences Between Helping and Hurting
Empathy and enabling can easily go hand-in-hand. Both usually come from a place of care and compassion and from a desire to help. The difference, however, is in the outcomes.
Enabling allows dangerous and self-destructive behaviors to persist, which stops any problem solving from occurring.
Enabling can come in many forms, including:
- Giving someone money, so they do not steal
- Creating excuses for someone’s behavior
- Ignoring unacceptable behavior
- Not expressing how you feel to avoid someone becoming upset or leaving
Empathy and support should come in the form of words. Communicate with your child to show them you want to help, but do not engage in behaviors that enable self-destructive acts. There is no incentive for your child to change if there is nothing to lose.
Protecting your child from the potential outcomes of alcoholism can stop them from seeing the bigger picture and understanding that he needs help.
Some ways to stop enabling your child may include:
- Buying food when they're is hungry rather than giving them money that can be spent on alcohol
- Not cleaning up after them – if he makes a mess while intoxicated, leave it for them to see and deal with
- Continuing to follow plans even if your child does not participate
- Taking back autonomy by prioritizing your needs
How to Take Care of Yourself
If you have an alcoholic child, your priority is most likely to help them. It is only natural for a mother or father to want to do all they can to help their child when dealing with alcoholism. It is essential, however, to take care of yourself first so you can help your child.
When your child struggles with alcoholism, you will do more harm than good if you do not look after yourself. It is essential to practice good self-care during this difficult time.
Self-care may include:
- eating well
- getting enough sleep
- exercising when you can
When you look after these needs, you protect your immune system, energy levels, and cognitive abilities.
All of this helps you deal with your child's alcohol problem. Ignoring your needs lowers your resiliency, leading you to be less helpful in managing this crisis.
To help you deal with the emotional toll that your child's alcohol use disorder has caused you, look for support from others in your community. One of the most effective ways to do this is to participate in Al-Anon meetings.
Al-Anon is the sister group to Alcoholics Anonymous. In these meetings, families, and friends impacted by a loved one’s drinking meet to include the Twelve Steps and Traditions in their lives.
The goal of Al-Anon is not to learn how to fix your child but how to cope with the effects their drinking has on you.
Participants can share their stories, listen to the experiences of others, and engage in conversation that helps strengthen their resolve.
Having a place to go for support, like an Al-Anon meeting, can be invaluable when your child is struggling with alcoholism.
How to Help an Alcoholic Child Who Doesn’t Want Help
If your child is resistant to treatment for their alcoholism, you can force them to get help. If the person addicted to alcohol is under 18 years old, a legal guardian can bring them to treatment.
You are allowed to physically carry them to treatment or hire a therapeutic teen transport service to get them to therapy.
While you can force an underage child to get help, it’s typically better for the parent-child relationship and the treatment outcome for them to enter treatment independently. One highly recommended method to get a resistant person into therapy on their own is to stage an intervention.
During this process, family and friends confront the child and urge them to enter treatment.
To conduct an intervention, you should consult the help of a professional interventionist, who can advise on the best treatment options and plan.
Unfortunately, you cannot force an adult child to get help in the same way you could a minor. However, you should still encourage them to get help.
Interventions are the best method to deal with someone who doesn’t want help because individuals who undergo an intervention are more likely to seek treatment.
You can also contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)’s helpline for support.
The SAMHSA helpline is a confidential, free, 24-hour, 365-day information service that provides referrals to treatment facilities and other support for individuals and family members facing mental and substance use disorders.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment Options
Alcohol addiction treatment options include inpatient programs, outpatient programs, and partial hospitalization programs.
The right treatment option depends on the individual’s needs and the severity of their addiction.
Consequences of Neglecting Treatment
Addiction is a brain disease that can lead to other behavioral health disorders such as depression and severe physical complications like organ failure, coma, or even death.
An individual with alcohol use disorder is at a greater risk of taking their own life, and in 2017, 2.6% of all deaths in the United States involved alcohol.