CHAPTER 1

ORIENTATION TO THE STUDY

                  BACKGROUND

This chapter contextualises the problem under investigation and various concepts pertaining to the adolescents’ experiences of alcoholism in the family are presented.

Despite it being a drug, alcohol is consumed legally almost universally. Whilst it is considered socially acceptable in moderation, it is often abused, resulting in alcohol addiction becoming a common phenomenon worldwide. In spite of the emotional stress that it causes in the lives of millions, its use continues to rise among the rich and the poor in society. The WHO Global Status Report on Alcohol 2004 indicates that this trend is likely to continue in the future, exerting an enormous toll especially on developing countries such as South Africa (WHO 2004:67).

Alcohol abuse or dependence can lead to chronic diseases, disability or death at a relatively young age for the abuser (WHO 2004:1). Its impact, however, extends beyond just the abuser. Research has shown that the lives of at least four other people primarily within the family are negatively affected by an alcohol-abusing person (Barnett 2003:467- 472).

In the United States 25% of the children younger than 18 years are exposed to alcohol abuse or dependence in their families (Lambie & Sias 2005:266-273). In the United Kingdom approximately 1 in 11 children live in a family with alcohol problems (Redelinghuys & Dar 2008:37-48). In South Africa, although these statistics for children are not available, the highest rates of alcohol dependence were recorded among the 35- 44 year age group for men and 45-54 year age group for women. Based on these age groups, it is possible that many of these adults could be parents of young or adolescent children. Of further concern is that between 7,5 % and 31,5% of South Africans have an alcohol problem, or are at risk for having one. Alcoholism has enormous social costs in that about 11 million family members have to endure the turmoil of living with problem or risky drinkers. Hence risky drinking was affecting about 17,5 million South Africans (National Drug Master Plan 2006-2011:10).

Alcoholism has been referred to as a disease, the impact of which reverberates through the entire family unit. In such homes where parental alcoholism prevails it becomes the

central focus for the other partner as well as for the children. Their activities, thoughts, feelings, communication and behaviours are influenced by this phenomenon. The adolescents affected often feel embarrassed to talk about their experiences outside of the home or to bring friends home. They prefer to keep this a secret and to pretend that all is well for them in their families. The pathological adjustments that they make to preserve the homeostasis in their families are done at the expense of their own normal development (Anda, Whitfield, Felitti, Chapman, Edwards, Dube & Williamson 2002:1001- 1009; Lambie & Sias 2005:266-273).

The researcher has chosen to explore the experiences of the adolescent in a home in which parental alcoholism prevails as familial alcoholism is likely to be associated with a variety of adverse outcomes in adolescents. Numerous studies have established that children of alcohol-abusing parents are at increased risk for such problems as alcohol and drug abuse, emotional and behavioural difficulties, low self-esteem and scholastic problems (Andreas & O’Farrell 2007:1-16; Loukas, Fitzgerald, Zucker & von Eye 2001:91- 106; Ritter, Stewart, Bernet, Coe & Brown 2002:113-122).