ABSTRACT
The words which best describe living in an alcoholic family are “inconsistency” and “unpredictability.” When structure and consistency are not provided by the parents, children will find ways to provide it for themselves. The oldest child often becomes a “responsible child” who takes on many of the household and parenting responsibilities; the younger child often becomes an “adjuster, “ who finds it much easier to exist by simply adjusting to whatever happens. Other children may become the placater who becomes very skilled at listening and showing empathy. However, some other children act out and display delinquent behavior which typifies the state of the family. A child in an alcoholic family tends to have a well-developed denial system about his feelings and his perceptions of what is happening in the home.
