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Research
Basis
IMPACT OF FREQUENT FAMILY DINNERS STRONGEST FOR YOUNGEST TEENS
New York, NY, September 20, 2007
Compared to teens who have frequent family dinners (five or more per week), those who have infrequent family dinners (two or fewer) are three and a half times likelier to have abused prescription drugs; three and a half times likelier to have used an illegal drug other than marijuana or prescription drugs; three times likelier to have used marijuana; more than two and a half times likelier to have used tobacco; and one and a half times likelier to have drunk alcohol, according to a new report by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University and sponsored by The Safeway Foundation. The report, The Importance of Family Dinners IV, also reveals that compared to 12- and 13-year olds who have frequent family dinners, those who have infrequent family dinners are:
- Six times likelier to have used marijuana;
- More than four and a half times likelier to have used tobacco; and
- More than two and a half times likelier to have used alcohol.
Among 14- and 15-year olds, those who have infrequent family dinners are three times likelier to have used marijuana and two and a half times likelier to have used tobacco compared to those who have frequent family dinners. Among 16- and 17-year olds, those who have infrequent family dinners are twice as likely to have used marijuana and almost twice as likely to have used tobacco compared to those who have frequent family dinners.
“This year’s survey finds the impact of frequent family dinners is strongest amongst 12- and 13-year olds, though the relationship holds true at every age,” said Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA’s chairman and president and former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. “The evidence is on the table. Teens who have frequent family dinners are less likely to smoke, drink, abuse prescription drugs and use illegal drugs.” The CASA report found 59 percent of teens report having dinner with their families at least five times a week, the same proportion CASA has observed over the past several years. Consistent with what teens report, 59 percent of parents say they have frequent family dinners. Findings in The Importance of Family Dinners IV draw from CASA’s 12th annual back-to-school survey, released this past August.
To download a free copy of the report visit:
http://www.casacolumbia.org/supportcasa/item.asp?cID=12&PID=161
CHILDREN OF ADDICTED PARENTS: IMPORTANT FACTS
Alcoholism and other drug addiction have genetic and
environmental causes. Both have serious consequences
for children who live in homes where parents are involved.
More than 28 million Americans are children of alcoholics;
nearly 11 million are under the age of 18. This figure
is magnified by the countless number of others who are
affected by parents who are impaired by other psychoactive
drugs.
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- Alcoholism and other drug addiction tend to run in
families. Children of addicted parents are more at risk
for alcoholism and other drug abuse than are other children.
- Children of addicted parents are the highest risk group
of children to become alcohol and drug abusers due to
both genetic and family environment factors.1
- Biological children of alcohol dependent parents who
have been adopted continue to have an increased risk (2-9
fold) of developing alcoholism 2
- Recent studies suggest a strong genetic component, particularly
for early onset of alcoholism in males. Sons of alcoholic
fathers are at fourfold risk compared with the male offspring
of non-alcoholic fathers.3
- Use of substances by parents and their adolescent children
is strongly correlated; generally, if parents take drugs,
sooner or later their children will also.4 Adolescents
who use drugs are more likely to have one or more parents
who also use drugs.5
- The influence of parental attitudes on a child’s drug
taking behaviors may be as important as actual drug abuse
by the parents.6 An adolescent who perceives that a parent
is permissive about the use of drugs is more likely to
use drugs.7
- Family interaction is defined by substance abuse or
addiction in a family.
- Families affected by alcoholism report higher levels
of conflict than do families with no alcoholism. Drinking
is the primary factor in family disruption. The environment
of children of alcoholics has been characterized by lack
of parenting, poor home management, and lack of family
communication skills, thereby effectively robbing children
of alcoholic parents of modeling or training on parenting
skills or family effectiveness.8
- The following family problems have been frequently associated
with families affected by alcoholism: increased family
conflict; emotional or physical violence; decreased family
cohesion; decreased family organization; increased family
isolation; increased family stress including work problems,
illness, marital strain and financial problems; and frequent
family moves.9
- Addicted parents often lack the ability to provide structure
or discipline in family life, but simultaneously expect
their children to be competent at a wide variety of tasks
earlier than do non-addicted parents.10
- Sons of addicted fathers are the recipients of more
detrimental discipline practices from their parents.11
- A relationship between parental addiction and child
abuse has been documented in a large proportion of child
abuse and neglect cases.
- Three of four (71.6%) child welfare professionals cite
substance abuse as the top cause for the dramatic rise
in child maltreatment since 1986.12
- Most welfare professionals (79.6%) report that substance
abuse causes or contributes to at least half of all cases
of child maltreatment; 39.7% say it is a factor in over
75% of the cases.13
- In a sample of parents who significantly maltreat their
children, alcohol abuse is specifically associated with
physical maltreatment, while cocaine exhibits a specific
relationship to sexual maltreatment.14
- Children exposed prenatally to illicit drugs are 2 to
3 times more likely to be abused or neglected.15
- Children of drug addicted parents are at higher risk
for placement outside the home.
- Three of four child welfare professionals (75.7%) say
that children of addicted parents are more likely to enter
foster care, and 73% say that children of alcoholics stay
longer in foster care than do other children.16
- In one study, 79% of adolescent runaways and homeless
youth reported alcohol use in the home, 53% reported problem
drinking in the home, and 54% reported drug use in the
home.17
- Each year, approximately 11,900 infants are abandoned
at birth or are kept at hospitals, 78% of whom are drug-exposed.
The average daily cost for each of these babies is $460.18
- Children of addicted parents exhibit symptoms of depression
and anxiety more than do children from non-addicted families.
- Children of addicted parents exhibit depression and
depressive symptoms more frequently than do children from
non-addicted families.19
- Children of addicted parents are more likely to have
anxiety disorders or to show anxiety symptoms.20
- Children of addicted parents are at high risk for elevated
rates of psychiatric and psychosocial dysfunction, as
well as for alcoholism.21
- Children of addicted parents experience greater physical
and mental health problems and higher health and welfare
costs than do children from non-addicted families.
- Inpatient admission rates and average length of stay
for children of alcoholics were 24% and 29% greater than
for children of non-alcoholic parents. Substance abuse
and other mental disorders were the most notable conditions
among children of addicted parents.22
- It is estimated that parental substance abuse and addiction
are the chief cause in at least 70-90% of all child welfare
spending. Using the more conservative 70 percent assessment,
in 1998 substance abuse and addiction accounted for approximately
$10 billion in federal, state and local government spending
simply to maintain child welfare systems.23
- The economic costs associated with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
were estimated at $1.9 billion for 1992.24
- A sample of children hospitalized for psychiatric disorders
demonstrated that more than 50% were children of addicted
parents.25
- Children of addicted parents have a high rate of behavior
problems.
- One study comparing children of alcoholics (aged 6-17
years) with children of psychiatrically healthy medical
patients found that children of alcoholics had elevated
rates of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
and ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) measured against
the control group of children.26
- Research on behavioral problems demonstrated by children
of alcoholics has revealed some of the following traits:
lack of empathy for other persons; decreased social adequacy
and interpersonal adaptability; low self-esteem; and lack
of control over the environment.27
- Research has shown that children of addicted parents
demonstrate behavioral characteristics and a temperament
style that predispose them to future maladjustment.28
- Children of addicted parents score lower on tests measuring
school achievement and they exhibit other difficulties in
school.
- Sons of addicted parents performed worse on all domains
measuring school achievement, using the Peabody Individual
Achievement Test-Revised (PIATR), including general information,
reading recognition, reading comprehension, total reading,
mathematics and spelling.29
- In general, children of alcoholic parents do less well
on academic measures. They also have higher rates of school
absenteeism and are more likely to leave school, be retained,
or be referred to the school psychologist than are children
of nonalcoholic parents.30
- In one study, 41% of addicted parents reported that
at least one of their children repeated a grade in school,
19% were involved in truancy, and 30% had been suspended
from school.31
- Children of addicted parents compared to children of
non-addicted parents were found at significant disadvantage
on standard scores of arithmetic.32
- Maternal consumption of alcohol and other drugs during
any time of pregnancy can cause birth defects or neurological
deficits.
- Studies have shown that exposure to cocaine during fetal
development may lead to subtle but significant deficits
later on, especially with behaviors that are crucial to
success in the classroom, such as blocking out distractions
and concentrating for long periods.33
- Cognitive performance is less affected by alcohol exposure
in infants and children whose mothers stopped drinking
in early pregnancy, despite the mothers’ resumption of
alcohol use after giving birth.34
- Prenatal alcohol effects have been detected at moderate
levels of alcohol consumption in nonalcoholic women. Even
though a mother may not regularly abuse alcohol, her child
may not be spared the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure.35
- Children of addicted parents may benefit from supportive
adult efforts to help them.
- Children who coped effectively with the trauma of growing
up in families affected by alcoholism often relied on
the support of a non-alcoholic parent, stepparent, grandparent,
teachers and others.36
- Children of addicted parents who rely on other supportive
adults have increased autonomy and independence, stronger
social skills, better ability to cope with difficult emotional
experiences, and better day-to-day coping strategies.37
- Group programs reduce feelings of isolation, shame and
guilt among children of alcoholics while capitalizing
on the importance to adolescents of peer influence and
mutual support.38
- Competencies such as the ability to establish and maintain
intimate relationships, express feelings, and solve problems
can be improved by building the self-esteem and self-efficacy
of children of alcoholics.39
References
1
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2 Schuckit, M.A., Goodwin, D.A., & Winokur, G. (1972). A study
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4 Fawzy, F.I., Coombs, R.H., & Gerber, B. (1983). Generational
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5 Skiffington, E.W. & Brown, P.M. (1981). Personal, home, and
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11 Tarter, R.E., Blackson, T.C., Martin, C.S., Loeber, R., &
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practices in substance abuse and normal families. The American
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12 Reid, J., Macchetto, P., & Foster, S. (1999). No Safe Haven:
Children of Substance-Abusing Parents. Center on Addiction and
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13 Ibid. page 2.
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15 Leventhal, J.M., Garber, R.B., & Brady, C.A. (1989). Identification
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17 Booth, R.E., & Zhang, Y. (1996). Severe aggression and related
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18 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National estimates
on the number of boarder babies, the cost of their care, and
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waisgate: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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20 Earls, F., Reich, W., Jung, K.G., & Cloninger, C.R. (1988).
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22 Children of Alcoholics in the Medical System: Hidden Problems, Hidden
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24 The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information.
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33 National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health. 25
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