Social Effects of Alcoholism
The effects of alcoholism range from the direct physiological impact on the individual
to a widespread effect on society. In the United States, one family in three is
estimated to be affected in some way by a drinking problem.
Children of alcoholics may be affected by a father's or mother's alcoholism in several ways. Having a problem-drinking parent increases the risk of becoming a problem drinker oneself. This may happen because of identification with or imitation of the alcoholic parent, but also because the social and family conditions associated with alcoholism are among those believed to contribute to the development of alcoholism. These include family conflict, divorce, job insecurity, and social stigma. Other
problems reported in children of alcoholic parents in the United States and in Europe include hyperactivity, school problems, antisocial behavior, and drug use. As noted, adoption studies indicate that children of alcoholics have an increased risk of alcoholism even when they have no exposure to drinking parents. Thus, imitation and domestic turmoil cannot explain the development of alcoholism in every case.
Alcoholism is an enormous public health problem. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse in the United States cost society an estimated $98 billion and take 100,000 lives per year, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, due to lost production, health and medical care, motor vehicle accidents, violent crime, and social programs that respond to alcohol problems. One-half of all traffic fatalities and one-third of all traffic injuries are related to the abuse of alcohol. Also, one-third of all suicides and one-third of all mental health disorders are estimated to be associated with serious alcohol abuse. Accidents associated with alcohol problems are especially prominent among teenagers. It has been estimated that there are over 4 million problem drinkers between the ages of 14 and 17 in the United States.