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for professionals > effects of parental substance abuse > medical & physical consequences

MEDICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC CONSEQUENCES

Medical problems
health care utilization: Studies of COAs in childhood have documented increased rates of several physical illnesses generally believed to be stress-related, including enteritis, colitis, and asthma. A 1990 COAF study of hospital admissions compared 595 minor children of Independence Blue Cross subscribers who had received treatment for alcoholism with children of subscribers never treated for alcoholism. The study revealed a 24% higher overall inpatient admission rate, a 29% greater average length of stay, and 36% greater average hospital charges for the COAs. Admissions for injuries and poisonings, substance abuse, mental disorders, and diseases of the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems were also greater for the COAs. In addition, children of alcoholic mothers had more admissions and greater lengths of stays for birth defects.

child abuse and neglect: Child abuse and neglect have been linked to parental alcohol abuse, as has incest. Although studies are not conclusive, between 12% and 70% of child abusers have been identified as alcoholics using various data. Such abuse may be the cause of physical as well as emotional trauma and may bring the COA to medical attention.

birth defects: Significant alcohol intake by the mother during pregnancy has been linked to a variety of birth defects, the most serious of which is the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). FAS consists of a combination of facial dysmorphia, severe and persistent growth deficiency, central nervous system dysfunction with mental retardation, and other defects. Lesser degrees of alcohol-related birth defects are referred to as Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE). Both FAS and FAE are persistent, lifelong organic dysfunctions requiring specific rehabilitation.

alcoholism and other drug dependence: The familial nature of alcoholism has been documented in many studies over the years, with both genetic and environmental factors implicated in the transmission process. COAs are at approximately 3 to 4 times greater risk for developing alcoholism compared to children of non-alcoholic parents. In addition, COAs are at increased risk for other drug dependence, which in conjunction with alcoholism, accounts for much of the increased incidence of hospitalization for poisoning and accidental trauma in COAs discussed above.

Psychiatric disorders
disorders of childhood: As mentioned before, mental retardation and other organic mental dysfunctions have been linked to maternal drinking during pregnancy. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder has also been linked to parental alcoholism, as have other anxiety and childhood depressive disorders, and conduct disorders in childhood.

eating disorders: Recent studies have shown that a disproportionate number of patients suffering from bulimia nervosa are COAs.

anxiety and depressive disorders: As in childhood, anxiety and depressive disorders have been reported to be more common in adolescent and adult COAs than in the general population, particularly among females.

pathological gambling: Adult alcoholics and addicts who had alcoholic fathers show an increased risk of pathological gambling.

sociopathy: The relationship between antisocial personality disorder (ASP) and parental alcoholism is well-established, as is the strong association between ASP and adult alcoholism and other drug dependence.