© The Stauros Foundation (known as Stauros) is a Scottish Charity, SC014253
The Problem with Alcohol
Drinking and Families
Drinking affects whole families and especially
children. Almost without exception (92%) Stauros
people admitted that their drinking made family life
unhappy, although a much smaller percentage
(45%) admitted that their drinking had spoiled their
relationship with their children. It was a common
report that children felt that the persistent drinking
of a parent meant that parent no longer cared
about them. Not being cared for was the conclusion
family members came to for a number of reasons.
Although not in every case, it was common for them to have been lied to, abused in a variety of
ways and to have suffered in ways few people who have not been close to such an individual
can understand. It must be said that drinkers, in the majority of cases, do not intentionally
cause such pain.
Sadly, drinkers can come to see their family as a hindrance to unrestricted drinking, and can
chose to abandon family relationships to afford themselves the freedom to drink the way they
wish. However, when parents drink sometimes children suffer. Any type of maltreatment in the
context of parental drinking has the potential to cause emotional and behavioural problems,
lowered social competencies and self-esteem
in their children.
•
Pray for the safety of children affected by the alcohol abuse of their
parents, for them to find solace and comfort from other family members
or close friends.
•
Pray for emotional health of children growing up in hostile or toxic
families, where they may hear and see things that are detrimental to their
well-being.
•
Pray for Stauros as we try to help everyone in a family affected by alcohol
addiction.
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