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