Family and Peer Pressure Leads to Alcohol Addiction 1

Running head: FAMILY AND PEER PRESSURE LEADS TO ALCHOL

ADDICTION
Peer Pressure as a Factor Leading to Alcohol Addiction
Nicole A. Gaudia
Richard L. Gurion
Noel L. Lee
Saint Louis College (High School)
Mr. Al Gerald S. Barde
English IV
St. Maximilian Kolbe
December 5, 2013
Family and Peer Pressure Leads to Alcohol Addiction 2
Outline:
I. Introduction
A.Concept of Alcohol Addiction
B.Involvement of Peers
C.Teenage Alcohol Addiction: Familys Dilemma
II. Presentation, Analysis & Interpretation Data
A.Case Studies
1. Case study 1: Exposure of Teenager to Addicted Family
a.Analysis
2.Case study 2: Permission of Parents
a.Analysis
3.Case Study 3: Peer Pressure via Advertising
B.Treatment
1.Medication
2.Psychotherapy
3.Long Term Support
a.Counseling
b.Guidance
III. Conclusion
Family and Peer Pressure Leads to Alcohol Addiction 3
ABSTRACT
Prominently, most teenagers come up to an inappropriate habit via family and peer
pressure. So, our team decided to study about teenagers particularly the
involvement of peers and family why teenagers come to uphold their own habit-
forming which proceeds to addiction. Our team is yearning to know the factor why
teenagers lead to such action and what may be the possible treatment for alcoholic
teenagers. As a matter of fact, we, as a team, frisk all the possible information that
will help our readers to have some knowledge about this problem. As references for
our research, we used all the informative details particularly in books, magazines
& internet. As a result, we, researchers, found out that family and peer pressure
has a huge role to teenagers as they perceive to the inculpation to their habit.
Family and Peer Pressure Lead to Alcohol Addiction 4
PEER PRESSURE AS A FACTOR LEADING TO ALCOHOL ADDICTION
I. INTRODUCTION
Alcohol addiction, as an enslavement which afects every individual, is a
prolonged and excessive intake of alcoholic drinks leading to a breakdown in
health and to severe withdrawal symptoms (Farlex 2012).
Alcohol addiction is quite probably a perilous dilemma. Alcoholic
individuals have vulnerable pattern of diminishing or ignoring the negative
impacts of overconsumption; the hangovers, loss of memory, fghts, violence
and arrests. So as Bejerot (1978) quoted The less vulnerable individual
equates heavy alcohol consumption as overall unpleasant as a result of the
negative efects outweighing the positive. In alcohol addiction, the addict is
trapped in a self-perpetuating pattern of behaviour.
In drinking alcohol, the addiction actually develops slowly and
insidiously period of years. As a matter of fact, Maxwell (2005) explains that
the use of alcohol leads to dependence upon it as an indispensable agent for
the relaxingof the increasingly constrictive barrier. Alcohol addiction requires
personality changes which enable a more objective and satisfying interaction
with other persons and other aspects of the environment.
Alcohol addiction, indeed, has serious efect which may be prevented
will not subject himself/herself to peer pressure. Peer pressure is one thing
that all teens have in common. They can't escape it; it is everywhere. No matter
how popular they are, how well liked them may be or how together they feel,
Family and Peer Pressure Leads to Alcohol Addiction 5
sooner or later they will have to face peer pressure.
Whether it is pressure to conform to a group norm or pressure to act certain
way peer pressure is something all have to deal with at some time in
their life. Drinking alcohol is a part of human development, an integrated of the
socialization process that usually occurs within the context of their family and
society. Csikszentmihalyi & Larson (1984) concluded It is not surprising that
young adolescents that use of alcohol is rather that widespread. As adolescents
get older, they spend less time with their parents and more time with friends
resisting the attempts of parents to control the selection and association of
these friends. Peers have an efective idea on how they perceive their friend.
As a result, peers get stuck in a behavioural problem in lieu of their peers
favour.
Alcoholism is a family disease in the sense that it also wounds those
closest to the alcohol dependent person. There might be a confict relationship
between the father and mother of alcoholic teenager. Fry (2010) stated that a
certain people believe that any drinking, no matter how much, how often or for
what reason, it is still a problem. As we gear up for occasions, the issue of
managing teen alcohol consumption looms large for many parents should be
responsible in every action theyll do. There might be colossal possibility of
rebellion. Every child will rebel in an unexpected time. Teenage alcoholics are
at high risk for developing problems with alcohol; they often do poorly at
school, live with pervasive tension and stress, have high levels of anxiety and
depression and experience coping problems. So, as the teenager amass more
infuential peers, time by
time, difculty in the family will always occur.
Advertisement of alcohol attracts teenagers. It is an infuential media
action that gives negative efect. Youth alcohol consumption represents an
international public health crisis. Hastings et al. have analysed and
summarized the growing international body of research literature showing that
exposure to alcohol advertising predicts awareness of that advertising ,which
leads in turn to positive beliefs about alcohol, increased intentions to drink ,
and higher likelihood of consuming alcohol (Jernigan, Ross & Ostrof, 2005).
Maxwell (1951) stated that a beer advertisement is an example of initial motives
of alcohol use come into play. Instead of providing information about their
beer, advertisers seduce people for you to associate with their product. In
essence, the facts that an individual is exposed to an advertisement that does
not mean they will pay attention to or even notice.As peer descry the
advertisement, there will be a encouragement occur. So as Feldman (1997)
quoted A means of the encouragement of peers, a member is forced to do
such. This idea is merely right but in reality it is a false adjustment. In the
beginning, it seems to serve a useful and apparently helpful purpose in
enabling him to make a satisfactory adjustment to his environment
(Maxwell, 1951).It has actually a positive afect and episodic recall in response
to alcoholic beverage advertisements.
Family and Pressure Leads to Alcohol Addiction 7
III. INTERPREATION, ANALYSIS, & PRESENTATION OF DATA
A.Case Studies
Case Study 1: Exposure of teenage to an addicted family
As a young girl, two of the more traumatic things I went through were
up with an alcoholic parent and divorce parents (King, 2009).
As we prominently know, peers play a critical role in our lives. It is
defnitely ethical but then again family also does. It is proven that one of the
cause why teenagers see the relevance of alcohol is the exposure of their
parents addictive habits. Behavioural problems demonstrated by children of
alcoholics have revealed some of the following traits: lack of empathy for other
persons; decreased social adequacy and interpersonal adaptability; low self-
esteem; and lack of control over the environment. Well, when they stuck out
into a something and got low of their self-esteem, they fnd a way to search for
peers to make them happy again even though they experienced a
tremendous dilemma of their family. We probably know there are many forces
that infuence a person in deciding whether or not to drink. One of those
forces, certainly the attitude toward drinking that is held in the persons home.
A family has a strong direct and indirect infuence. According to Bremner
(2011) his idea about parent or guardian has a particularly strong infuence on
their childs behaviour. This ranges from the point at which alcohol is
introduced, parents should take the full responsibility or the supervision.
Family insobriety is a very strong infuence, particularly if its parents who have
Family and Peer Pressure Leads to Alcohol Addiction 8
been drunk. The odds of young person getting drunk multiple times are twice
as a great if they have seen their parents drunk (Borsari & Carey, 2011).
Case Study 2: Permission of parents
Most students who say they sometimes drink; also say they learned to drink
from home. Most say they have their parents permission to drink(Nash, 2005).
Some teenagers say that they drink more than their parents know about,
chiefy away from home (Smith, 2009). Parents allow their children to drink, for
some time, because they know that they will still insist to. According to Khun
(2013), many parents feel that its better for their teens to be exposed to alcohol
in the safety of their own homes, under adult supervision. Parents allow their
children to drink as long as they know their limitation in drinking. Most
parents permitted their child to drink because they trust them as well as they
trust his childs acquaintance. Parents permit their child to go with their
friends for bonding which teenagers ideally think that it is more spontaneous
and exciting. If they learn acceptable behaviour and use of alcohol early in
their lives theyre unlikely to fnd themselves in trouble with alcohol at a later
time. If something is forbidden, then it becomes attractive just because it is not
allowed. She feels that the earlier teens start drinking, the more likely they are
to become alcoholics (Khun, 2013). Just because a parent allows their teen to
drink under their supervision does not ensure that the teen will not drink
alcohol with others outside of the home. Sometimes teenagers abuse it because
parents authorized them.
Case study 3: Peer pressure via advertising
Family and Peer Pressure Leads to Alcohol Addiction 9
IV. TREATMENT
1.According to some research, medication is one of the seminal treatments
to deal with addiction. Medical treatment for alcoholics is essential in helping
them to stop drinking and in helping them to survive the withdrawal symptoms
(Hill & Needle, 1979). There are diverse medicines exploit to help people in
recovery from alcoholism maintain abstinence and sobriety. One of the
medicines that demote the craving for alcohol is medication (Williams, 2005).
Naltrexone can be given even if the individual is still drinking; however, as with
all medications used to treat alcoholism, it is recommended as part of a
comprehensive program that teaches patients new coping skills. Naltrexone
demotes the craving for alcohol which many alcohol dependent people
experience when they quit drinking. Alcohol Abuse Health Center (n.d) believed
that naltrexone works through its blockage of opioid receptors, which reduces
the reinforcing efects of alcohol leading to decreased feelings of intoxication
and fewer cravings.
Another medicine according to NAHC is Disulfram that may be
exploiting once the detox phase is complete and the person is abstinent. It
interferes with alcohol metabolism so that drinking a small amount will cause
nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, confusion, and breathing difculty.
Disfulgram discourages an alcoholic from drinking in signifcant amounts while
they take the medicine disulfram prescribed to help people who want to quit
drinking by causing a negative reaction if the person drinks while they are
Family and Peer Pressure Leads to Alcohol Addiction 9
taking antabuse (Alcohol Abuse Health Center, n.d)
2.The second treatment is psychotherapy which is a common treatment.
The only therapy which would give the alcohol addict release from his addiction
would be a therapy which increases his capacity to interact with his
environment in a less neurotic manner (Kalat, 2009). Psychotherapy is
generally a longer-term process concerned with reconstruction of the person
and larger changes in more fundamental psychological attributes such as
personality structure. Help with coping with cravings, avoiding the substance,
and dealing with possible relapses are key to efective addiction programs. A
therapist helps the person avoid these triggers, and replace negative thoughts
and feelings with ones that are healthier. If the patients family can become
involved there is a better probability of positive outcomes. The cessation of
treatment deprives them of support and impairs their motivation to keep on
trying. They may even feel deserted by the therapist when they have no more
appointments to look forward. It is best to terminate therapy gradually and to
enlist the support of family and friends after the therapy is over.
3.And fnally, long term support is also a treatment which divided to two
Counselling is an intensive interpersonal process concerned with assisting
normal people to achieve their goals or function more efective. So, Hill &
Needle (1979) concluded that other forms of treatment to alcoholics involve
counselling and special drugs. Abstinence is the most crucial and probably the
most difcult step to recovery from alcoholism. Counselling is an essential part
Family and Peer Pressure Leads to Alcohol Addiction 10
of alcohol abuse treatment for many people. Counselling can provide
encouragement and motivation to stick to treatment. It can help you learn how
to make healthy decisions, handle setbacks and stress, and move forward with
your life. Prescription drug abuse counselling helps addicts escape craving and
learn to cope with life, without using drugs. Addicts are masters of denial, the
thinking went, and therapy should break down walls to force them to accept
the reality of their addiction. Counselling is a useful way for family and friends
to learn more about your situation, how to help, and how to handle the
problems your addiction has caused them. It is a safe place for them to express
feelings and to fnd out what help is available for everyone afected. Through
counselling, you learn about the motivations and behaviours that led to your
addiction. You learn to commit to a more healthful lifestyle.
4. The second long term support for an alcoholic person is guidance.
At local policy level, support services and guidance for parents and families
should incorporate clear messages about the importance parents drinking,
access to alcohol at home, parental supervision and encouraging young people
into positive activities (Bremner, 2011). The supervision of the family or the
people around a teenager is much more important. Guidance is merely
appropriate for teenagers because of the fact that they really need it. People
recovering from alcoholism, their families, and their children can and often do
achieve optimum levels of health and function. The guidance of a family take a
whole way part of the recovering session of their own child. Reprimanding them
Family and Peer Pressure Leads to Alcohol Addiction 11
in doing various ingenious acts, maybe halfway of their addiction will
eventually loss. Through the given words advices around the teenager, there
might be a development in teenagers personality.
V. Conclusion
In peer pressure, one of the main factors associated with young people ever
having drunk alcohol is how they perceive their friends behaviour. The more
friends they thought were drinking, the more likely young people were to have
been drinking alcohol. Friends drinking also infuences the amount of young
people drink: the likelihood of young people drinking heavily reduces
signifcantly among those who say some or a few friends drink alcohol
compared with someone who says that all of their friends drink alcohol. In
family infuence, parents strongly infuenced young peoples especially in
alcohol related behaviour through supervision and monitoring, as well as
playing a role of monitoring, which can reduce the likelihood of drinking,
frequent of drinking, and the higher levels of alcohol consumption or
drunkenness. The exposure of alcohols of parents to their children has a huge
efect especially to their children. As they are drinking, children attempt also to
do it. Witnessing family members drinking and perceptions of drunkenness
among family members in the home can make this kind of drunkenness among
family members in the home can make this kind of drinking appear normal.
Family and Peer Pressure Leads to Alcohol Addiction 12
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