Family Dynamics
Wright 1
Randi Wright
Professor Fitzpatrick
ENGL 1023
November 30, 2012
Is family dynamics what determines whether we end up addicted to substances?
“Drinking with Daddy” was used for my guide on research to Family Dynamics and Addiction. “Drinking with Daddy” gives out the brief, yet verified reason why many people are under the impression that addiction is hereditary and passed down the line. Susan starts her story off by stating “My grandmother Cheever taught me how to embroider, how to say the Lord’s Prayer, and how to make a perfect dry martini (1496).” Although many people believe that it is genetic, it has been proven that you don 't have to be what your family is or was. You are not destined to be an addict just because it is in your family history or family dynamics. Many people have parents that are addicted to drugs and alcohol. Lots of them grow up to not have any substance abuse problems in their lifetime.
For many years there have been family members that have been impacted by alcohol and drugs. It states in the article written by William white and Bob Savage, that family members “have been cursed by social stigma, public neglect, and professional misunderstanding” (1). In the story, Susan talks about not even knowing it was a problem when she was exposed to her parents drinking and that “Every evening at six o’clock, right on schedule, the grown-ups would prepare for what they called their pre-prandial libation (1470).” It was a common, everyday occurrence for her to see her
Wright 2
Parents and neighbors do their drinking. Naturally, you would think it was normal to drink everyday, because that is all you had been exposed to since you could first remember. Susan talks about how that after the adults would start their daily drinking “the entire mood would change” (1470) and also how “ the adults got loose and happy and forgot I was a child”(1470). The belief that alcohol was a “product of heredity grew throughout the nineteenth
Randi Wright
Professor Fitzpatrick
ENGL 1023
November 30, 2012
Is family dynamics what determines whether we end up addicted to substances?
“Drinking with Daddy” was used for my guide on research to Family Dynamics and Addiction. “Drinking with Daddy” gives out the brief, yet verified reason why many people are under the impression that addiction is hereditary and passed down the line. Susan starts her story off by stating “My grandmother Cheever taught me how to embroider, how to say the Lord’s Prayer, and how to make a perfect dry martini (1496).” Although many people believe that it is genetic, it has been proven that you don 't have to be what your family is or was. You are not destined to be an addict just because it is in your family history or family dynamics. Many people have parents that are addicted to drugs and alcohol. Lots of them grow up to not have any substance abuse problems in their lifetime.
For many years there have been family members that have been impacted by alcohol and drugs. It states in the article written by William white and Bob Savage, that family members “have been cursed by social stigma, public neglect, and professional misunderstanding” (1). In the story, Susan talks about not even knowing it was a problem when she was exposed to her parents drinking and that “Every evening at six o’clock, right on schedule, the grown-ups would prepare for what they called their pre-prandial libation (1470).” It was a common, everyday occurrence for her to see her
Wright 2
Parents and neighbors do their drinking. Naturally, you would think it was normal to drink everyday, because that is all you had been exposed to since you could first remember. Susan talks about how that after the adults would start their daily drinking “the entire mood would change” (1470) and also how “ the adults got loose and happy and forgot I was a child”(1470). The belief that alcohol was a “product of heredity grew throughout the nineteenth
Cited: by:www.bhrm.org/advocacy/fami.y.pdf White, William and Savage, Bob. “All in the Family: Addiction, Recovery, Advocacy, http//www.bhrm.org/advocacy/family.pdf,1979.Web..(1-14) http://blogspsychcentral.com/family/2009/09/addiction-and-family-roles/ http://www.the -alcoholism-guide.org/alcohol-abuse-statistics.html Dayton, Tian. “The set up: Living with Addiction. “ 2010.Web. (1-4) Burney, Robert. “ The dance of wounded souls.” Material on Joy2MeU. 1995-2008. (1-2) W. Bill, “Alcoholics Anonymous. (2001)., 4th Edition. New York: A.A. World Services. Schilb, John and John Clifford, “Making Literature Matter: An Anthology for Readers and Writers.” 4th ed.