Alcoholism And The Family

The science of the etiology and treatment of alcohol has made notable progress in recent years. Since the early 1970s there have been growing in-roads made concerning the relevance of hereditary factors in alcoholism. This has led to the presentation of various innovative hypotheses in this field. In conjunction with this there has been much discussion and study of the "alcoholic personality" and its possible characteristics. These may be considered the "longitudinal aspects" linked to the transmission of alcoholism.

What difference does culture make? Coping with Alcohol and Drug Problems: The Experiences of Family Members in Three Contrasting Cultures aims to deepen and extend understanding of the experiences of family members trying to cope with the excessive drinking or drug taking of a relative. Comprehensive and thoroughly up to date, this book draws on the results of the cross-cultural study of alcohol and drug problems in the family, and places these results within the broader context of the international literature on the subject. By investigating the similarities and differences in the experiences of family members in three parts of the world, the authors reveal results which have far-reaching implications for professional intervention and prevention. Subjects covered include: models of understanding: how families continue to be pathologised and misunderstood. how family members cope. an integrated view of alcohol and drug problems in the family. ways of empowering family members. This book aims to demonstrate the possibility of a constructive alliance between professionals, substance misusing relatives, and the affected family members by thoroughly investigating the dilemmas that face family members and the lack of support they experience. This fascinating insight into the impact of alcohol and drug problems on family members will be a valuable resource for all those who are interested in substance misuse in family and cultural contexts, and particularly those who are interested in the treatment of alcohol and other drug problems.

This volume provides an in-depth look at the genetic influences that contribute to the development of alcoholism. Part I: Epidemiologic Studies contains five chapters that examine the various approaches employed in the study of the genetics of alcoholism. It provides a historical perspectiveand details all the essentials of this subject. Part II: Selective Breeding Studies highlights the results of research involving the selective breeding of rodents. This type of research has produced homogenous strains exhibiting specific behavioral responses considered significant in thedevelopment and maintenance of alcohol dependence. The studies presented in Part III: Phenotypic Studies investigate and analyze phenotypic markers that serve as correlates to the genotypic determinants of alcoholism. Through its broad scope, this volume provides for the first time a panoramic viewof the knowledge available on the hereditary influences of alcoholism.

In this groundbreaking work, four distinguished researchers at the Center for Family Research at the George Washington Medical Center detail over ten years of research into alcoholism in the family context. "This landmark work is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand or treat alcohol abuse. A welcome counterpoint to the simplistic explanations usually offered on the subject, it provides us with the authors' many years of careful, sophisticated research in a clear, empathic, and clinically sensitive presentation. The developmental perspective has crucial implications for diagnosis and intervention".--Monica McGoldrick, Rutgers University Medical School. Notes, tables and index.

Family relationships change dramatically when one or more members stops drinking. Far from offering a "quick fix" to family problems, in fact, the first years of sobriety are often marked by continuing tension that fuels marital stress, acting-out kids, and difficulties at work. This book explores the process of recovery from addiction as it affects the entire family, presenting an innovative model for understanding and treating families navigating this difficult period. The authors draw upon extensive clinical and research experience to demonstrate how families can be helped to regroup after abstinence, weather periods of emotional upheaval, and find their way to establishing a more stable, yet flexible, family system.

Everybody is trying to help the addict or alcoholic get sober but very few people really know how to help the family through the experience. This book has the real world insight of a husband and wife team who are survivors of alcoholism who have worked with thousands of people over the last twenty years. You will learn about interventions and how they work and when to use them...not from a TV show full of drama, but from people that want to guide your family toward success. You will learn how to live with alcoholism while not losing your family to it. You will find a way of peace during the storm. You will gain confidence that God has a plan for your family that may not be clear to you quite yet.