It can be very easy to justify heavy drinking.
You get the bills paid. You’re not in jail. You even manage to attend most family functions. It’s not like you’re a heroin addict whose children were taken away.
But the truth is alcohol addiction can be just as devastating as drug addiction to both you and to your loved ones.
Alcoholism Effects on Family
First, let’s take a look at the obvious ways alcohol abuse affects your family.
- Financially. Let’s say you drink five days a week, costing $5 each. That’s $6,500 a year. The National Institute of Health offers this Alcohol Spending Calculator if you’re interested in knowing how much money you spend annually on drinking.
- Relationships. Once addiction takes root, it’s in control. That means everything else ultimately comes second, including your marriage and your children. Need proof? A study done by the University at Buffalo Research Institute on Addictions followed 634 couples over a nine-year period. Non-drinking couples had a 30 percent divorce rate. Marriages where one spouse drank heavily and the other did not resulted in a 50 percent divorce rate.
- Stability. This is especially relevant for alcoholics who have children at home. Kids crave order and routine. If mom is nursing a hangover in the morning, they’ll notice. If dad is never around to tuck them in at night, they’ll notice.
- Health. It’s true that heroin is more dangerous in that the risk of overdose and death is greater, but alcohol certainly has the power to destroy one’s health. Not only does it hurt the liver, but alcohol also raises the risk of certain cancers and heart problems.
Alcohol and Family Disease
About 25 percent of children who grew up in an alcoholic home became alcoholics later in life. This is due to both genetics and environment. Growing up in an alcoholic home can also cause various mental health issues.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment
At The Raleigh House in Denver, Colorado, we take a whole-person approach to recovery. That means we don’t just get the alcohol out of your system. We work with you to help you recover psychologically, mentally, spiritually and socially as well. Rehab isn’t just about giving something up – it’s about getting your life back. Fill out our form or contact us today to learn more about the alcohol addiction treatment program at The Raleigh House.
