At least seven million American children have alcoholic parents.  Child and adolescent psychiatrists that these children are at a greater risk for having emotional problems than children whose parents are not alcoholics.  Alcoholism runs in families, and children of alcoholics are four times more likely than other children to become alcoholics.

A child of an alcoholic parent may have a variety of problems, including:

• Guilt.  The child may see himself/herself as the main cause of the parent's drinking.
• Anxiety.  The child may worry constantly about the situation at home.  He/She may be afraid the alcoholic parent will become sick or injured and may also fear fights and violence between the parents.
• Embarrassment.  Parents may give the message that there is a terrible secret at home.  The ashamed child does not invite friends home and may be afraid to ask anyone for help.
• Inability to have close relationships.  Because the child has been disappointed by the drinking parent many times, he/she often does not trust others.
• Confusion.  The alcoholic parent may change suddenly from being loving to angry, regardless of the child's behavior.  A regular daily schedule, which is important for a child, does not exist because bedtimes and mealtimes are constantly changing.
• Anger.  The child may feel anger at the alcoholic parent for drinking and may be angry at the nonalcoholic parent for lack of support and protection.
• Depression.  The child may feel lonely and helpless to change the situation.  Although the child tries to keep the alcoholism a secret, teachers, relatives, and other adults or friends may sense that something is wrong.  

Child and adolescent psychiatrists advice that the following behaviors may signal a drinking problem at home:

• Failure in school; truancy
• Lack of friends; withdrawal from classmates
• Delinquent behavior, such as violence or stealing
• Frequent physical complaints such as headaches or stomachaches
• Abuse of drugs at school
• Aggression towards other children

Some children of alcoholics may act like responsible "parents" within the family and among friends.  They may cope with the alcoholism by becoming controlled, successful "overachievers" throughout school, and at the same time be emotionally isolated from other children and teachers.  Their emotional problems may show only when they become adults.

Whether or not their parents are receiving treatment for alcoholism, these children and adolescents can benefit from educational programs and mutual help groups such as programs for children or alcoholics, Al-Anon Child, and Alateen.  Professional help, the earlier the better, is also important in preventing more serious problems for the child, including alcoholism.  Child and adolescent psychiatrists help these children with their own problems and also help them to understand they are not responsible for the drinking problems of their parents.

The treatment program may include group therapy with other youngsters, which reduces the isolation of being a child of an alcoholic.  The child and adolescent psychiatrist will often work with the entire family - particularly when the alcoholic parent has stopped drinking - to help them develop healthier ways of relating to one another.

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