Contrary to what some may believe, teens are undoubtedly susceptible to alcohol use. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), “[A]bout 19.7% of youth ages 14 to 15 reported having at least 1 drink in their lifetime.” Also, “5.8 million youth ages 12 to 20 reported drinking alcohol beyond ‘just a few sips’ in the past month.'” This leaves many parents wondering if their kid’s drinking behaviors are related to them. Further, this is especially true with parents who are now sober, with many parents asking themselves, “Can I pass my alcohol addiction down to my kids?”
Understanding Genetics and Alcohol Addiction
It is becoming more and more understood that genetics can play a significant role in whether or not someone is susceptible to addiction (both alcohol and substances). According to Current Psychiatry Reports, “Although addiction is multifactorial, heritability estimates have indicated that around 40% – 60% of the population variability in becoming addicted to nicotine, alcohol, or illicit drugs is attributable to genetic factors. Some genetic factors may influence an overarching susceptibility to developing addiction; thus, their effects are shared across different drugs of abuse.”
So, when it comes to the question, “Can Alcoholism be passed down to my kids?” it is important to recognize that there are risk factors for addiction that are both in and out of a parent’s control. This is why the article above referred to addiction as “multifactorial.”
I’m Sober Now, Can I Still Pass My Alcohol Addiction Down to My Kids?
When it comes to addiction in kids, the reality is that their home life and family play a major factor. According to Social Work in Public Health, “The family remains the primary source of attachment, nurturing, and socialization for humans in our current society… Each family and each family member is uniquely affected by the individual using substances, including but not limited to having unmet developmental needs, impaired attachment, economic hardship, legal problems, emotional distress, and sometimes violence being perpetrated against him or her. For children, there is also an increased risk of developing an SUD themselves.”
So, because home life and family play such a big role in passing down addiction, the presence of alcohol and alcohol use can undoubtedly contribute to addiction risk. This is because alcohol use can create a negative environment characterized by a lack of parental oversight, potential verbal and physical abuse, and displays of negative addictive behaviors. Continuing to remain sober and providing a healthy home life for your children, alongside teaching healthy coping mechanisms and encouraging safe behaviors, will increase their chances of avoiding alcohol addiction later in life.
How Did My Alcohol Addiction Negatively Affect the Home?
The truth is that kids are both impressionable, and they look up to their parents. This can be a detrimental combination if a parent is actively struggling with untreated alcohol addiction.
A parent’s alcohol addiction in the home can create a destructive “tornado” that can affect everything and everyone in its path. This is especially true in how alcohol addiction can negatively affect the kids in the house.
Alcohol addiction in the home can lead kids to leave home prematurely, which can put them in dangerous situations. Many kids also turn to social media to escape negative situations like addiction in the home, and social media can also lead to negative influences regarding alcohol use. The good news is that just as alcohol addiction can negatively affect the home, being sober and in recovery can positively affect the home.
How Can My Recovery Positively Affect the Home
Parents in recovery can be exceptional examples of sobriety and what is possible. Kids who have experienced a parent’s behaviors while they were in active addiction will certainly notice the change in their parent and home life now that their parent is in recovery.
Yet, it is important to understand that recovery is not just about motivating sobriety in the home but also about bringing new recovery principles and healthy goals that all family members can benefit from. A parent in recovery also offers an opportunity for the whole family to get the help they need. After all, addiction is not just a “disease” but a “family disease” – thus, one that requires a “family solution.”
Healing the Whole Family With The Phoenix Recovery Center
So, is alcoholism passed down? Research shows that genetics and environment play a large role in the potential for susceptibility to addiction in children of addicts. While your child’s chances of inheriting alcoholism are dependent on many factors it’s important to give them the best possible chances by providing proper support. Addiction can be devastating to the whole family. Therefore, at The Phoenix Recovery Center, we focus on healing for the whole family by addressing and incorporating family dynamics into our recovery plans.
Here at The Phoenix Recovery Center, we understand that both passing down and inheriting alcoholism can be a scary prospect for parents and children. The reality is that some risk factors for addiction, like genetics, are out of a parent’s control. However, choosing a life of recovery is in anyone’s control, and it is one of the best ways to ensure that alcohol addiction is not passed down through generations. Recovery is possible, and we can help make it happen for the whole family.
There are many root causes of addiction, including those that can start in the home. Many parents in recovery have concerns about their alcohol addiction struggles being passed down to their kids. The good news is that this is far from a certainty, and their choice of sobriety is the best deterrent for passing on any alcohol-related addictive tendencies. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the positive path to recovery right away. For more information regarding addiction running in the family, please reach out to The Phoenix Recovery Center today at (801) 438-3185.
