Fathers Who Drink Heavily Teach Teens to Do Likewise

Teens who observe their parents abusing drugs or alcohol are more likely to do likewise, a fact confirmed yet again by recent research findings out of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which looked into the rate of underage substance use in households where the father had an alcohol use disorder (alcohol abuse or alcoholism).

The Findings:

•    38.8% of teens living with a father with an alcohol use disorder had used alcohol within the last year. Only 21.1% of teens living with a father without an alcohol use disorder admitted to alcohol use within the same period.
•    24.2% of teens who lived with an alcohol abusing father admitted to past year drug use, compared to only 14% of teens who lived with a father who abstained from alcohol
•    1 in 12 teens lives in a household where the father has an alcohol use disorder

Acting SAMHSA Head, Eric Broderick, commented on the findings, saying,

“This study highlights the continuing need to educate fathers, mothers and other role models about the profound impact their drinking behavior can have on their children.”

In another recent study, performed at the Columbia University National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), researchers learned that teens living with a father who condones underage drinking are 250% more likely to drink alcohol.