Adult Children of Alcoholics

Alcoholism is a progressive and debilitating condition that not only affects the individual but can also have a substantial negative impact on the entire family system. In fact, alcoholism is typically described as a "family illness" due to the stress on the family members. Recent estimates suggest that as many as 20% of children are raised in a family with at least one alcoholic parent. Adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) are at risk for alcoholism and other related problems, and a considerable amount of research has been conducted in this area. Quantitative research has focused primarily on risk factors of ACOAs that contribute to the development of a substance use disorder. In addition, qualitative and quantitative research has examined the personality and clinical characteristics of ...