Alcoholism is a disease which not only affects the inflicted, but also those around them. Alcoholism can be an especially destructive force in a family. This can be seen most clearly by looking at an alcoholic's effect on their spouse and children.
Families that have a problem drinker usually focus their attention on the drinker as the one in the family that has the problem. This, however, is not the case. A family acts as one whole functioning unit whose balance can be upset by an individual's problem. Therefore, an alcoholic's problem affects the entire unit.
The spouses are often the ones who takes the brunt of the alcoholics' problem. They are disturbed by the alcoholic's behavior and can often be driven to drinking themselves. They are the ones who must make the first intervention and attempts at reform. On top of this is a tireless burden to cover up the alcoholic's problem from the outside world. They also often have to put up with physical and mental abuse.
Unfortunately, children are also often caught up in an alcoholic's problems. Older children feel the need to protect their parents from harm they may do to each other. Because of the alcoholic' problems, young children are often neglected. This leaves the mothering burden on the shoulders of the older children. Divided loyalties can be created between the children as they take sides with one parent or the other. Also, a child may not know what is expected of him due to the alcoholic's inconsistent behavior.
An alcoholic's problems create a host of problems for their families. Spouses must take on the creates burden, but, sadly, children can also be deeply affected.