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Alcohol and the family

Author

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  • Woody Caan

Abstract

From a UK Government perspective, most current public health approaches to alcohol focus on the behaviour of individuals (e.g. the Nudge towards changed drinking: Marteau, T.M., Ogilvie, D., Roland, M., Suhrcke, M., & Kelly, M.P. (2011). Judging nudging: can nudging improve population health? BMJ , 342 , 263-265) and, increasingly, psychiatric approaches focus on adjusting microscopic circuits within the brain of individuals [Caan, W. (2012). Defining addiction, with more humanity. Contemporary Social Science , 7 . doi: 10.1080/21582041.2012.683577 (published first online 28 May)]. Although it has been apparent for a long time that a major area where alcohol causes harm is within the family and that involving family members in interventions (e.g. Social Behaviour and Network Therapy ) is effective in reducing harm, most services for addiction neglect families as either assets or liabilities for treatment [Alcohol Concern. (2000). Britains' ruin ? London: Alcohol Concern; Caan, W. (2000a). Working with families. In Working with families - making it a reality (p. 102). Birmingham: NHSE West Midlands; Copello, A., & Orford, J. (2002). Addiction and the family: Is it time for services to take notice of the evidence? Addiction , 97 , 1361-1363]. In the UK, over 6% of adults grew up in a family where at least one parent drank excessively [Alcohol Concern. (2000). Britains' ruin ? London: Alcohol Concern] and since at least 8% of children live now in such homes it is not surprising that I found the extra training staff in Parenting Programmes requested most often was for problems with alcohol [Caan, W. (2010). Fair society, healthy lives. Timing is everything. BMJ , 340 , 495]. This year we face a turning point: The Government's Alcohol Strategy has a narrow emphasis on 'supporting individuals to change' [HM Government. (2012). The government's alcohol strategy (p. 21). London: Home Office]. This article promotes a more balanced alcohol policy, where understanding family ties and the history and quality of relationships are recognised as important - and valuable.

Suggested Citation

  • Woody Caan, 2013. "Alcohol and the family," Contemporary Social Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(1), pages 8-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rsocxx:v:8:y:2013:i:1:p:8-17
    DOI: 10.1080/21582041.2012.745594
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