Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEffects of Alcohol on the BrainHow Alcohol Affects FamiliesHow Families Can CopeSupport Groups for Family MembersGetting Help

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Effects of Alcohol on the Brain

How Alcohol Affects Families

How Families Can Cope

Support Groups for Family Members

Getting Help

People who have an addiction to alcohol continue to engage in compulsive behaviors despite negative consequences.Many of these negative consequences affect the individual’s health and well-being, but family, friends, and other loved ones are also often affected as well.

If we are a friend or family member of a person with analcohol use disorder(AUD), we might be searching for ways to better understand our loved one’s behaviors. It can feel like a struggle not to internalize their hurtful actions, but the reality is that people with an alcohol problem may not fully understand the impact that their actions have on friends and family.

It can often be helpful for family members to learn more about alcohol use disorders and explore ways to improve their responses during interactions with someone who has a drinking problem. This may mean setting ground rules and joining a support group such as Al-Anon, designed specifically to meet the needs of families of people with alcohol use issues.

At a GlanceAlcohol misuse can have a serious detrimental impact on the health and well-being of individuals as well as their families. Getting treatment is essential and can help people begin to recover their normal functioning and improve relationships with their partners, children, and other loved ones.Support from family and friends is essential, but people who make up the individual’s support system also need to be sure that they are caring for themselves. Reaching out to support groups, seeking educational resources, and talking to a mental health professional can all be beneficial if you have a loved one who has an alcohol use problem.

At a Glance

Alcohol misuse can have a serious detrimental impact on the health and well-being of individuals as well as their families. Getting treatment is essential and can help people begin to recover their normal functioning and improve relationships with their partners, children, and other loved ones.Support from family and friends is essential, but people who make up the individual’s support system also need to be sure that they are caring for themselves. Reaching out to support groups, seeking educational resources, and talking to a mental health professional can all be beneficial if you have a loved one who has an alcohol use problem.

Alcohol misuse can have a serious detrimental impact on the health and well-being of individuals as well as their families. Getting treatment is essential and can help people begin to recover their normal functioning and improve relationships with their partners, children, and other loved ones.

Support from family and friends is essential, but people who make up the individual’s support system also need to be sure that they are caring for themselves. Reaching out to support groups, seeking educational resources, and talking to a mental health professional can all be beneficial if you have a loved one who has an alcohol use problem.

Loved ones of people with alcohol use disorder may feel lessempathyfor them and become more frustrated with them as time passes. We get how challenging this can be, but it may help to learn about how alcohol affects the brain.

Alcohol can impair an individual’s motor andcognitive abilities. This occurs while a person is drinking. It can also createlonger-term impairmentsthat persist even after a person is no longer intoxicated.

Chronic, heavy alcohol consumption can cause reductions in both white andgray brain matter, leading to brain shrinkage. This can lead to problems with:

Heavy alcohol consumption can also causemalnutrition and vitamin deficiencieswhich can further contribute to alcohol’s detrimental effects on the brain.In some cases, people may develop alcohol-related dementia or a cognitive disorder known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.

Alcohol use can have a serious negative effect on close relationships. As the problem becomes more severe, people with the condition may withdraw from loved ones or lash out at those who try to help.

Increased Family Problems

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that consuming alcohol increases the risk of family problems and violence.Some of the ways that alcohol may impact families include:

Impact on Children

Children who have a parent with an alcohol problem may also experience a wide range of negative effects and emotions. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry suggests that these feelings may include:

Kids may also exhibit behaviors such as social withdrawal, risk-taking, and academic problems.

Press Play for Advice on Preventing Addiction

Encouraging our loved ones to get treatment is important, but there are also other steps that can help us protect our well-being.

It is also important to manage your expectations. Recovery from alcohol addiction is a process that takes time and may involve setbacks.

When a loved one is receiving treatment for an alcohol use disorder, family members can also benefit from educational and support programs such asAlateen and Al-Anon. There are a number of important benefits of participating in support groups:

These support groups can serve as a source of stability, resources, and advice for people who have loved ones who are struggling with alcohol addiction. In addition to finding people who have had experiences similar to our own, we can learn more about how to care for our own health and well-being.

Helpful ResourcesAlcoholics AnonymousAl-AnonAlateenNational Association for Children of Alcoholics

Helpful Resources

Alcoholics AnonymousAl-AnonAlateenNational Association for Children of Alcoholics

If you or someone you love has an alcohol use problem and are concerned about the impact it might be having on family and friends, talk to your healthcare provider. Effective treatments are available, and your provider can advise on next steps. Your provider canprescribe medicationsthat can help people stop drinking and help withsymptoms of alcohol withdrawal. They can also recommend treatment programs that may help with detox and recovery.

Unfortunately, many people are not aware that there are medications available to help treat alcohol use disorder. According to one 2019 survey, only around 1.6% of adults with an AUD reported using medications during treatment.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Its Impact on Mental Health

7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Society of Addiction Medicine.Definition of addiction.Stavro K, Pelletier J, Potvin S.Widespread and sustained cognitive deficits in alcoholism: a meta-analysis.Addict Biol. 2013;18(2):203-13. doi:10.1111/j.1369-1600.2011.00418.xRossi RE, Conte D, Massironi S.Diagnosis and treatment of nutritional deficiencies in alcoholic liver disease: Overview of available evidence and open issues.Dig Liver Dis. 2015;47(10):819-25. doi:10.1016/j.dld.2015.05.021Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Alcohol and substance use.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families.American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.Alcohol use in families.Han B, Jones CM, Einstein EB, Powell PA, Compton WM.Use of medications for alcohol use disorder in the US.JAMA Psychiatry. 2021;78(8). doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.1271

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Society of Addiction Medicine.Definition of addiction.Stavro K, Pelletier J, Potvin S.Widespread and sustained cognitive deficits in alcoholism: a meta-analysis.Addict Biol. 2013;18(2):203-13. doi:10.1111/j.1369-1600.2011.00418.xRossi RE, Conte D, Massironi S.Diagnosis and treatment of nutritional deficiencies in alcoholic liver disease: Overview of available evidence and open issues.Dig Liver Dis. 2015;47(10):819-25. doi:10.1016/j.dld.2015.05.021Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Alcohol and substance use.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families.American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.Alcohol use in families.Han B, Jones CM, Einstein EB, Powell PA, Compton WM.Use of medications for alcohol use disorder in the US.JAMA Psychiatry. 2021;78(8). doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.1271

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Society of Addiction Medicine.Definition of addiction.Stavro K, Pelletier J, Potvin S.Widespread and sustained cognitive deficits in alcoholism: a meta-analysis.Addict Biol. 2013;18(2):203-13. doi:10.1111/j.1369-1600.2011.00418.xRossi RE, Conte D, Massironi S.Diagnosis and treatment of nutritional deficiencies in alcoholic liver disease: Overview of available evidence and open issues.Dig Liver Dis. 2015;47(10):819-25. doi:10.1016/j.dld.2015.05.021Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Alcohol and substance use.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families.American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.Alcohol use in families.Han B, Jones CM, Einstein EB, Powell PA, Compton WM.Use of medications for alcohol use disorder in the US.JAMA Psychiatry. 2021;78(8). doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.1271

American Society of Addiction Medicine.Definition of addiction.

Stavro K, Pelletier J, Potvin S.Widespread and sustained cognitive deficits in alcoholism: a meta-analysis.Addict Biol. 2013;18(2):203-13. doi:10.1111/j.1369-1600.2011.00418.x

Rossi RE, Conte D, Massironi S.Diagnosis and treatment of nutritional deficiencies in alcoholic liver disease: Overview of available evidence and open issues.Dig Liver Dis. 2015;47(10):819-25. doi:10.1016/j.dld.2015.05.021

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Alcohol and substance use.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families.

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.Alcohol use in families.

Han B, Jones CM, Einstein EB, Powell PA, Compton WM.Use of medications for alcohol use disorder in the US.JAMA Psychiatry. 2021;78(8). doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.1271

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?