Problems Alcoholism Can Cause in a Poor Family in the U.S

Alcoholism is generally defined as excessive consumption of alcohol. Alcoholism can cause many problems, including physical disease and financial distress. Poverty is defined as having an annual income that is below the poverty level for a specific family size. A family that faces temporary or long-term fiscal problems will suffer even more as a result of a primary or secondary caregiver's alcoholism.

Financial Problems

• Alcohol is not an inexpensive item to purchase. A bottle of wine or six pack of beer can easily cost more than $10. An alcoholic who is purchasing a six pack a day can easily cut a poor family's food budget by half and decrease income available for healthier items such as poultry and fresh vegetables.

Unavailable Caregiver

• A parent who is drunk is unable to participate in school activities such as helping a child with homework or attending a school play. Parents who drink usually can't help a child get up in the morning for school or prepare a hot breakfast or lunch for them. This can cause a child to feel unloved and may even affect their ability to complete schoolwork and learn. Housing that is in disrepair because of the family's financial troubles might remain dangerous because a caregiver cannot fix a broken step or contact the owner of the house to demand that heating or cooling issues be addressed.

Legal Troubles

• Caregivers who drink to excess can face legal consequences. A drunken driver can get arrested. A parent who racks up a series of driving while under the influence convictions can face prolonged jail time and the permanent loss of a driving license. This can make it difficult to keep a job, hurting the family's finances further.

Poor Role Models

• Family members who consume too much alcohol act as poor role models for younger family members. A teenager could follow in the caregiver's footsteps and drink to excess as well. Children who are around parents who drink might come to see excessive drinking as a normal activity. Alcohol tolerance is thought to have a genetic component. Children can inherit a parent's propensity for alcohol consumption. A parent who has a lot of alcoholic beverages around the house may encourage a child to sample alcohol at a young age and thus develop a taste for it.

Loss of Custody

• Parents who drink excessively can have their children taken away from them. A home removal can be a devastating action for a child who may cling to a parent despite their problems. Low-income families may not have enough money to hire a lawyer to avoid letting the child fall into the foster care system.