37.årgang nr.3 Juli 2000 Alkohol – familie – børn

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Temanummer om ALKOHOL – FAMILIE – BØRN

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Er alkoholisme en privatsag – også i børnefamilier?

Korshin, Pia Merete (superintendent at Familieambulatoriet, Thoravej). Is Alcoholism a Private Matter – Even in Families with Small Children? Psykologisk Pædagogisk Rådgivning, 2000, Vol. 37, 3, 249-255. Based on many years of experience, the authors wonders why drugs are usually considered worse than alcohol for the children in misusing families. Perhaps because drugs are illegal; alcohol legal. However, these children suffer in many ways; becoming lonely, taking on too large responsibilities, etc. Alcohol politics have spread to many workplaces; why not let municipalities work out plans for immediate action together with day-care institutions and schools in cases of family misuse?

Risikofaktorer i barndommen – Langtidsvirkinger af forældres misbrug

Forældrenes alkoholmisbrug og narkotika-afhængighed synes at påvirke flere aspekter af børnenes tilværelse. I denne dansk forløbsundersøgelse1) kan man således konstatere en overdødelighed, og overhyppighed af selvdestruktive adfærdsformer (selvmordsforsøg, narkomani) blandt børn af alkoholiserede forældre og børn af mødre, der er narkomaner. Der er endvidere en overhyppighed af voldskriminalitet og pådømte sædelighedsforbrydelser blandt børn af mødre, der er alkoholikere eller narkomaner. Indlæggelse af børn og unge som følge af psykiske lidelser ses endvidere relativt hyppigt i de tilfælde, hvor forældrene er alkoholikere eller narkomaner. I denne danske forløbsundersøgelse af langtidsvirkninger finder man således, at børnenes udvikling af narkomani delvist kan forklares med en relativ hyppig forekomst af alkoholisme blandt forældrene. Men det var især moderens alkoholisme eller narkomani, der var udslagsgivende for om børnene senere udviklede afhængighed af narkotika som voksne – også når der var korrigeret for andre belastende forhold som fx forældres psykiske lidelser, vold i familien samt barnets anbringelse udenfor hjemmet.

Christoffersen, Mogens Nygaard (senior researcher at Socialforskningsinstituttet). Childhood Risk Factors – Long-term Consequences of the Misuse of Parents. Psykologisk Pædagogisk Rådgivning, 2000, Vol. 37, 3, 257-268. 155,000 children born in 1966 and 1973 have together with their parents been followed for 15 years (1979-1993). These are among the main findings: parental drugs and alcohol misuse have several consequences for the lives of their children: excess mortality and excess self-destructive behaviour (suicidal attempts and drug misuse). Excess crimes of violence and convictions of sex crimes with children of alcoholic or drug-dependent mothers. Also more hospitalisation due to psychiatric illnesses. While these findings were found to be related to both parents, the effects of maternal drugs use had more impact.

Børn med medfødte alkoholskader

Olofsson, May (medical consultant at Familieambulatoriet, Hvidovre Hospital and Rigshospitalet). Children with Congenital Alcohol Damage. Psykologisk Pædagogisk Rådgivning, 2000, Vol. 37, 3, 269-280. Only recently has the knowledge of the impact of maternal drinking on the development of children gained much interest in Denmark. There is no doubt that maternal alcoholism influences foetuses to such an intent that it must be counted as the most frequent cause of mental retardation as well as many of the cases of MDD etc. The three forms of Foetal Alcoholic Syndrome are described. Danish investiga6tions have found a frequency of 1 FAS birth per 650, that 3.4 per cent of pregnant women have three or more drinks per day leading to the conclusion that 2,200 children in Denmark each year are born with serious risks of having lasting, congenital deficiencies. The work at the Familieambulatoriet is directed at prevention of these problems.

Børn i familier med alkoholmisbrug – med fokus på behandlerens rolle

Artiklen er en let bearbejdet version af et foredrag, der er blevet holdt på Lænkeambulatoriernes årsmøde april 1997. Der refereres til to undersøgelser: Når mor eller far drikker… Interview med børn og forældre i familier med alkoholmisbrug. Socialforskningsinstituttet, 1994 og Anbringelser af børn. En kvalitativ analyse af processen. Socialforskningsinstituttet, 1998. Den sidste undersøgelse var i gang på det tidspunkt, hvor foredraget blev holdt. De problemstillinger, der belyses i foredraget, er også i dag relevante for børn i familier med alkoholmisbrug.

Christensen, Else (senior researcher at Socialforskningsinstituttet). Children in Families with Alcohol Misuse – Focusing on the Role of the Therapist. Psykologisk Pædagogisk Rådgivning, 2000, Vol. 37, 3, 281-291. Based on an investigation of 32 children and a case study the author underlines the following stress factors for the children of alcoholic parents: alcohol problems cannot be discussed in the family – the children have many emotions and thoughts about their own roles – they have fears that their parents may die – they fear that their parents do not love them – they fear rejection by others, if it becomes known that their parents drink – they have problems integrating their own positive and negative pictures of their parents with the stereotypes of alcoholics. All of this points to the importance of the work of therapists.