Parental alcohol abuse has
long-term consequences for offspring
(Pediatrics-January 22, 2004)
"The aim of this study is to
consider whether parents' abuse of alcohol has an impact on children during
their formative years. The research is based on data from 84,765 children
born in Denmark in 1966. These children and their parents were followed
between 1979 and 1993," scientists writing in the Journal of Substance Abuse
Treatment report.
"Information was analyzed from government registers covering health,
education, family separation, suicidal behavior, criminality, and
unemployment, using a discrete time Cox-regression model."
"Results showed that the parents' alcohol abuse may frame the childhood with
parental violence, very high occurrence of family separations, and often
foster care," wrote M.N. Christoffersen and colleagues, Danish National
Institute of Social Research.
"The parental abuse of alcohol may influence several long-term consequences
for their 15- to 27-year-old children such as increased mortality and
self-destructive behaviors (e.g. attempted suicide or drug addiction).
Hospitalization due to violence, an increased risk of teenage pregnancy and
unemployment were also seen more frequently among cases where the parents
were alcohol abusers. Mothers' alcohol abuse seemed to be associated with
higher occurrences of all the mentioned disadvantages," study authors
suggested.
Christoffersen and colleagues published their study in Journal of Substance
Abuse Treatment (The long-term consequences of parental alcohol abuse: a
cohort study of children in Denmark. J Subst Abuse Treat,
2003;25(2):107-116).
Additional information can be obtained by contacting M.N. Christoffersen,
Danish National Institute Social Research, Herluf Trollesgade 11, DK-1052
Copenhagen K, Denmark.
The publisher of the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment can be contacted
at: Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd., the Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington,
Oxford OX5 1GB, UK.
The information in this article comes under the major subject areas of
Addiction Medicine, Pediatrics, Mental Health, and Women's Health. .
