Children of alcoholics/addicts (COAs) are at a greater risk to develop alcohol and drug dependency, eating disorders, attention deficit disorders, stress-related illness, and suicidal behavior. Children become part of a conspiracy of silence by being told not to talk about the drug problem. The family members assume different roles which…

It is estimated that 29 million American children have alcoholic parents. The author documents the unstable environment and psychological consequences suffered by these children, who are at great risk to become alcoholics themselves. (Editor)

This report presents initial results of the first phase of the Treatment Outcome Prospective Study (TOPS) a longitudinal investigation of the natural history of persons identified as eligible for treatment at selected federally-funded drug treatment programs in 1979-1981. The materials describe the characteristics, behavior, and intreatment…

A family system is intimately affected by the presence of an alcoholic within the system. One symptom of alcoholism is the development of elaborate defenses. In response to the defense of the alcoholic, each family member develops individual well established and unique defenses. The diagnosis of the defenses is essential in determining the nature…