Alcoholism in Canada
Alcohol is one of the most abused drugs in Canada. Alcohol use in the country is considered an acceptable norm, and it is included in nearly all events and celebrations. More than 80 percent of the Canadian population engages in drinking as the act is considered part of everyday life for Canadians. Taylor notes that more than 3 million people drink to levels of causing injury and further 4.4 million, placing themselves at risk of developing chronic life diseases. The heavy consumption of alcohol means that children come into contact with alcohol from the early stages of their lives. Taylor further notes that the levels of drinking impacts on family relationships by increasing conflicts and disintegration of the family. Increased alcohol abuse contributes to the destruction of relationships between children and parents in Canada.
In the Novel, In the Search of April Raintree, the author develops the themes of the adverse impacts of alcoholism. The author also notes the destructive effects alcohol has on families by destroying the relationship. April and her sister relationship with their parents are destroyed by alcoholism. At a very young age, April is exposed to the effects of alcoholism, and clearly understands the consequences of her parent’s behaviours. Due to her experiences, she learns to cope with the situation despite the high risk of alcohol abuse in her early years. She is a witness to underage alcohol abusers who are influenced to engage in other illicit behaviours such as stealing, and child-sex. For her, alcohol is the root cause of all ills and negligence from her parents. She, however, notes that everyone is required to take responsibility for their contact.
Consumption of alcohol has resulted in a host of problems. The article at Drug Rehab denotes that the increase in the levels of alcohol consumption significantly affects families. The author notes that both parents and children engagement in drinking creates disruptions in the family. Alcohol abuse is often viewed as an intervention strategy though it ultimately causes strain to the family. The problem of drinking is also persistent in the family as it is passed down from the parents. In this regard, there are a host of issues including low self-esteem, and abuse for children. Marriages are also broken, and many families are also afflicted with financial burdens. Alcohol abuse causes strain in the family relationship.
Children of alcoholics exhibit emotional, behavioural and cognitive problems. Gordis points out that children from alcoholics have lower verbal and IQ performances compared to children from non-alcoholics. Due to the different challenges associated with alcoholism, children in such families show bouts of anxiety and other affective disorders (Gordis). The children exhibit stress and symptoms of depression. The children are also more highly likely to exhibit behavioural problems. The children are reported to engage in more incidences of fighting, cheating, theft and truancy. The environments in which the children are brought up in further contribute to their challenges as they cope with the situations.
The environment of alcohol consumption in Canada has profound impacts on families and family relationships. The increased use of alcohol contributes to family disruptions and causes strain to the family. Children in those families experience low self-esteem and are forced to put up with failed marriages and financial constraints. Children also experience a myriad of emotional, behavioural and cognitive challenges that impact their relationships in the family. The challenges faced make it complex for the children to cope and maintain good relationships in the family.