Alcoholism is one of the leading causes of divorce and broken families in the U.S. and impacts millions of individuals and families yearly. The way that alcoholism affects families is different for each family. Families who don’t openly communicate will miss important signs of a growing addiction, while other families may even be part of the reason behind the alcohol abuse. If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction, they can enroll in an alcohol addiction treatment center that includes family therapy as part of the recovery process.
At Arkview Recovery Center, we support individuals and their families who are impacted by addiction to alcohol, heroin, opioid pain medication, and other addictive substances. We work with the individual and their families to not only treat the addiction but work with everyone to resolve any lingering issues that may interfere with recovery. Patients will work with a certified therapist in group and private therapy sessions to build healthy coping skills and work on repairing family relationships. How does alcoholism affect families? Continue reading or call 717.744.0756 today to speak with one of our friendly team members.
How Alcoholism Affects Families
One of the ways that alcoholism affects families is through their children. Alcohol and family history of addiction will impact children on a genetic level and cause them to have a more challenging time resisting peer pressure to try drugs and alcohol at an early age. A study at Columbia University shows that children are experimenting with alcohol as early as eleven years old for boys and thirteen years old for girls¹.
Other ways in which alcoholism affects families include:
- Marital conflicts and arguments
- Infidelity
- Domestic violence
- Financial difficulties
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Divorce
- Homelessness
- Children develop negative relationships and coping habits
While there is no cure for addiction, there are several programs that can address all aspects of addiction and reduce the impact it has on the family unit. At Arkview Recovery, our team has years of experience treating alcohol abuse and rebuilding relationships at our full-service addiction treatment facility. Each program is tailored to the individual and includes behavioral therapy, holistic therapy, medication-assisted treatment, and family counseling.
Treating Alcohol Abuse in the Family
Alcohol abuse can lead to serious health complications, tear apart families, and leave children with unhealthy coping and relationship skills. Many treatment programs include family therapy as part of an all-encompassing treatment program to prevent this from happening.
Here are just some of the ways of treating alcohol abuse and reducing the impact of how alcoholism affects families:
- Patients work with a behavioral therapist in private and group therapy sessions to learn about the reasons behind the addiction and develop healthy coping skills to manage their symptoms and triggers. They also develop healthy ways of communicating and expressing their feelings.
- Medical staff will administer medications to patients whose symptoms are severe enough to prevent healing. These medications are proven to reduce common withdrawal symptoms, alcohol cravings, and depressive or anxiety symptoms that can disrupt the recovery process. These medications offer temporary support until symptoms diminish.
- Families will work with a therapist in private to talk about any frustrations caused by the addiction so they can begin to forgive and move forward. During group family discussions, issues are discussed, and new coping strategies are developed to heal family relationships and make them stronger than ever.
Treating alcohol addiction and family relationships is imperative to create a supportive family environment and prevent future relapses. Families who work together to get healthy and sober are more likely to achieve their recovery goals, maintain lifelong sobriety, and build healthy relationships.
Arkview Recovery Center Helps Individuals and Families Impacted by Addiction
At Arkview Recovery, we work with adults and their families impacted by alcohol addiction at our full-service addiction treatment facility. We have years of experience treating alcohol abuse and family relationships in a comfortable and discreet environment using behavioral and holistic therapy techniques. We also provide medication-assisted treatment for patients whose symptoms disrupt recovery.
If alcoholism affects your family, message us online or call 717.744.0756 today to schedule a tour and meet our compassionate team.
