High Risk Family Assessment

High Risk Family Assessment and Health Promotion: Alcoholism

Marli Whitener-Patterson

University of Phoenix

Nur 542

Cindy Sessler

September 23, 2012

High Risk Family Assessment and Health Promotion: Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a growing problem in many families. It is “our nation’s number one health along with drug dependence” (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, para 1). Alcoholism affects everyone, sometimes without warning; no family is exempt or untouched. “Fathers, mothers, single parents, couples straight or gay, regardless of ethnicity or social groups, rich or poor” (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, para 2). Some of the problems that occur in families with an alcoholic family member are interrupted family relationships, chronic health problems, death either by homicides or suicides, child/spouse abuse and alcohol-related crimes and acts of violence. The interruption in the relationships of a family can display itself as poor academic performance of a child, related to a poor home life, or poor work performance by both the alcoholic and the spouse.

Alcoholism can increase or intensify health risks that are otherwise preventable such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, gout, pancreatitis, and liver damage. Heavy drinking with cardiovascular disease makes platelets more likely to form blood clots, which can cause a heart attack or stroke. Liver damage occurs as a result of alcohol metabolism and the inflammatory process. The damage sustained by the liver subsequently affects other systems of the body. It affects the body’s blood clotting factors, which give way bleeding and clotting problems. The excessive consumption of alcohol damages the gastrointestinal (GI) tract by causing gastritis and deteriorating mucosa lining of the esophagus, stomach, and GI organs (Harrington-Dobinson & Blows,...