Sociology

Introduction
Alcohol abuse has been cited as a major cause of family violence in the society. It is indeed a leading cause of divorce in the community. According to existing scientific evidence, alcohol has the effect of compromising the effect functioning of the human brain thus leading to subconscious actions by the victim (Coohey, 2007). This can easily lead to family abuse. The problem of failed financial stability due to alcoholism in a family is also a cause of family abuse (Bell, 2003). With failed economic stability a family cannot lead a comfortable live. Still, alcohol and its effects on family abuse have also been claimed in terms of the psychological effects it brings to the children. Such include living a life of depression, loneliness, fear and low self-esteem (Coohey, 2007). All these effects are quite disastrous for sustainable child development.

Psychological evidence claim that the development of character and behavior in a child is mainly by copying of the character traits of other members of the society (Fonts, 2001). In particular here are the parents. Therefore, with the abuse of alcohol by parents and all the potential conduct compromise it has, the child is bound to copy abuse character traits. This compromises the reliable future of the child in the society. Respect for parents and the reliability of children is another effect of alcohol abuse in the family. Abuse of alcohol among the youth is a leading cause of school dropouts and abuse to parents and their peers.

This paper is written as a discussion on the effects of alcohol on family abuse. The author takes a look at the various effects of alcohol by a spouse to the other spouse as well as to the children. A discussion on the social-economic effects of alcohol as they relate to family abuse is also given. Still examined is alcohol use among the young and its effects on the family.

Statistics on family abuse and alcohol
According to the available statistical evidence, there seems to be a close connection between the use of alcohol and other drugs and cases of family abuse. This has been closely attributed to the universally accepted knowledge that alcohol leads to impaired judgmental power, increased aggression and reduced inhibition ability on the users (Haugland,  Strom, 2005). Indeed, statistics show that an estimated over 92 percent of domestic cases reported involve a couple who uses alcohol (Fals-Stewart, OFarrell, 2003). Still clear is the fact that one in every four children is victims of exposure either to domestic violence due to alcohol or dependency on alcohol in the family.

It has been established that majority of suicides among the adolescents in the American society are a direct result of family abuse (Yeon, Ackerman  Felson, 2003). The leading influence of family abuse being alcohol, most these suicides should be attributed to alcohol. Still, it is worth stating her that the ultimate behavior of a kid is highly dependent on the lifestyle found in the family. In an environment marked with alcohol intakes and domestic violence, children have been found become alcoholics early in life (Fonts, 2001). However, due to the fact that they are not economically and psychologically stable to contain alcohol, many ends up to be victims of stress and depression, some key contributors to suicide.

Still, statistics have revealed that the poor influence gained by children living with problem drinking parents has seen the high rates of increase in the numbers of substance abusers in society (Hiller-Sturmhofel, Widom, 2001). Three in every four teenagers in the American society have either used or are currently using alcohol and other drugs (Coohey, 2007). Also clear is that such trends are directly compromising the realization of reliable youths in the families as well as the society in general.
Alcohol and its effects on couple relationship

Alcohol has many family abuse aspects between the couples. The first is the presence of domestic violence (Fonts, 2001). It has been scientifically established that alcohol is a depressant rather than a stimulant. This means the intake of alcohol serves to compromise the normal functioning of the human brain by inhibiting both judgmental and anger inhibition ability of the individual (Westerfield, Fuss, Terry, Osborne, Helton, Giancola, 2002). According to available psychological evidence, there is a very close association between the use of alcohol and interpersonal violence. Therefore, such eminent interpersonal violence is what usually translates to domestic violence between couples, and thus family abuse. This makes couples to be living in fear of each other, an element which is quite detrimental to the realization of sustainable happiness in a marriage.

Alcohol leads to marital conflicts such as arguments andor silent treatment. True to the underlying facts behind why many take alcohol, silent treatment or growing apart from their spouse is a leading cause (Benjamin, Warnken, Kane, Rosenbaum,  Cohen, 2001). Many find solace from their marriage relationships in alcohol. Others use alcohol as an excuse for executing violence against their partners. This leads to failure of couples to appreciate one another, a factor which can lead to divorce or separation. Still to be cited here is the fact that alcohol drinking has the ability to compromise ones reasoning and judgmental abilities. Also, alcohol reduces the individuals inhibition while increasing their aggression abilities (Follansbee, Hellmuth, Morean, Moore, Meehan,  Stuart, 2006). It is due to this reason that alcohol has the effect of arguments between couples.

Infidelity is considered a very serious crime in any marriage. It is indeed the leading cause of divorce and separations in the society. Alcohol is quite influential to the body behavioral. With its ability to limit conscious reasoning ability of the individual, alcohol is a major cause of prostitution in the human community. Just to be noted here is the fact that a good family is bond by the agreement of marriage (Follansbee, Hellmuth, Morean, Moore, Meehan,  Stuart, 2006). The question of unfaithfulness by any of the couple is thus a form of family abuse as it negates the underlying principle of establishing the family.

Apart from spousal abuse due to alcohol, alcohol has also been found to be a potential cause of death. The drunken experience low levels of inhibition ability. This means that they have a major problem in controlling their tempers. Worth noting still is the fact that alcohol increases an individuals aggression. It is to be noted here that aggression has the disadvantage of reduced respect and value for other peoples opinions (Haugland,  Strom, 2005). This can easily lead to battering of a partner to death or committing of suicide.

Alcohol is one of the common causes of death in the American society. Excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to irreversible brain damage to an individual (Haugland,  Strom, 2005). It is to be noted here that the human brain is quite important in ensuring the reliability of an individual in the society. This is because it serves as the central body organ in executing judgments. Alcohol also causes liver cirrhosis, a terminal health condition in the human body. All these possible deaths resulting from alcoholism can be equated to acts of ignorance or negligence of family by an individual.

It has been evidently established that even when cautioned by medical practitioners to stop alcohol drinking for health reasons, many people opt to continue with the practice.  This means that they do not care much or value their spouse as well as children, thus making alcohol to be a cause of neglect in families. Such are attributed to the addictiveness of alcohol which compromises the victims value for the sustainable future of their families (Benjamin, Warnken, Kane, Rosenbaum,  Cohen, 2001).

Alcohol and its effects on child abuse
Domestic or family abusive due to alcohol has various effects on children development. First is the fact that it is a leading cause of divorce in many families. Existing psychological evidence has it that the sustainable development of a child is quite dependent on the surrounding environmental factors (Follansbee, Hellmuth, Morean, Moore, Meehan,  Stuart, 2006). Character trait identity in kids is mainly developed through copying of the behaviors and character of other members. Just to be stated here is the fact that parents are the immediate and most influential human elements in a kids life. Therefore, with the high rates of divorce in families due to alcoholism, could be seen as possible causes of psychological stress on kids. Such stress andor depression play a great role in negating the child worldview and thus his or her future life.

Family abuse is usually marked with eminent incidences of value and norm negation practices between couples (Bell, 2003). It is these acts of violence and negligence which if communicated in the presence of children instills a strong influence on how the children view life, its values and expectations. It is to be noted here that alcohol reduces inhibition ability of its users. This means that couples have limited respect on their children when dealing with their own marital conflicts. Indeed, it is such eminent open acts of conflicts between parents which can lead to the development of a socially unacceptable character or behavior in children (Fonts, 2001).

Family abuses due to alcohol are marked with emotional reactions from children just like any other form of family abuse. It is the peak of human pain to sit and watch your beloved parents battering, insulting and arguing with each other in your presence. This leads to the development of an associative behavior by the children is favor of one parent (Yeon, Ackerman  Felson, 2003). However, given the fact that every parent in the family has a role in the development of the child, the flashback of the fantasies the children once shared with their otherwise seemingly bad parent bring evidently unavoidable emotional reactions on the child. This is more common in kids between the age of eight and eleven years. At this age many kids seem to see themselves as the reason behind any conflict between their parents. It is due to this reoccurrence of emotional stress due to eminent domestic abuse that the children are at a high risk of sustaining depression.

Misconduct particularly with regard to family abuse andor neglect due to alcohol has the potential of causing suicidal behavior in children (Fonts, 2001). This is firstly due to the fact that it can lead to the development of stress and depression on children. It is here to be stated that research findings mainly associate such concerns with children particularly at their adolescence stage (Fonts, 2001). Stress or depression is marked with eminent impulsive reactions to issues by an individual. This means that the reasoning and judgmental ability of the individual are compromised. It is based on this reasoning that family abuse claims a big percentage in causing suicidal behavior in children. Existing statistics on reported cases on suicidal acts among the adolescence population show that most of those involved are victims of family conflict.

Alcohol as a reason behind family abuse leads to child abuse. It is evidently clear from existing statistics that alcoholic parents have a higher potential of battering their children compared to their other counterparts (Fals-Stewart, OFarrell, 2003). This can be explained based on the fact that alcohol compromises both judgmental and inhibition ability of an individual. It has increases aggression an element which compromises chances of respecting opinions of others. Although corporal punishment might be an important disciplinary tool in kids, its ultimate success dependent on how it is executed. Alcoholics can rarely punish their kids with the desired passion to ensure behavioral change. Therefore, such punishments, given their intensity as opposed to the gravity of the mistake can only serve to instill a sense of abuse and dislike by the parent on the kid (Hiller-Sturmhofel,  Widom, 2001).

Still claimed is the fact that alcoholics are at a greater potential of sexually harassing their children (Coohey, 2007). Sexual harassments such as rape on kids have various complex negative effects on the future lives of kids. According to existing psychological research evidence, sexual harassment on children particular at their young stages of development can lead to post trauma stress disorder complications in their future lives (Coohey, 2007). Still to be cited is the possibility that such acts can great negate how a child perceives a given gender in the society. It should be appreciated that in such an event the kid will not only be at risk of failing in the social aspect of life but also in his academics and future work career since such are usually marked with a mixture of both genders.

It has also been evidently established that alcohol can greatly compromise the sustainable development of fetus (Haugland,  Strom, 2005). Medical research finding have sufficiently claimed a close link between drinking during pregnancy and brain damage in babies. Still domestic violence between couples during pregnancy can lead to abortion andor death of the unborn. It is worth appreciating here that family abuse should not be limited to acts of violence or neglect on the existing family members. It should rather be understood as any act by family members that can compromise the future of both the born and the unborn members of the family (Fonts, 2001). Therefore, based on this reasoning, it is a domestic violence to engage in alcoholism thus risking the mental stability of the unborn. This is because once born with a mental impairment, the family will live to solely provide for child.

Alcohol and its effects on the sustainable family upkeep
The biggest problem of alcohol as it relates to family abuse is the question of financial instability (Fals-Stewart,  OFarrell, 2003). The sustainable upkeep of a family is quite demanding not only in terms of influence by physical presence but by the parents ability to sufficiently provide for the family needs. Alcohol has been established to be a leading tool for misusing funds. It is to be noted here that budgets are rarely if not never adhered to when it comes to the question of alcohol abuse by one member of the society. This means that alcoholism can easily compromise the living standards in a number of ways.

First is on meeting basic family needs. The upkeep of children is quite an expensive investment in any family. It has never been the wishes of parents to have their kids live a low standard life than they did during their childhood (Follansbee, Hellmuth, Morean, Moore, Meehan,  Stuart, 2006). Still, according to the underlying societal and constitutional provisions in our nation, it is a basic requirement that parents provide for their children needs. Therefore, failure to meet this expectation is can be legally termed as family abuse of negligence (Fonts, 2001). However, for victims of alcohol abuse, are subject to poor financial decision making thus substantially compromising their ability to provide for their family. This can also be explained on grounds that alcoholics are fond of easting their money, many times leaving none or less for their families.

Alcohol abuse is causes a great challenge in the family particularly to the children who are solely dependent on their parents for their education. It is a direct result of losing financial security andor advantage in the society that many kids end up losing track in life. The fall of social class as can be brought by alcoholism is a major drawback in the development process of a kid. This is mainly because they find it hard to accept reality of leading a less fulfilling life. It is just to be noted here that alcohol leads to financial instability not only due to misuse of funds but also due to acts of negligence.

Kids who are victims of alcohol effects on family abuse will be faced with much difficulty in acquiring new of a lower social-economic status, a factor which will compromise their social and academic lives (Haugland,  Strom, 2005). Realizing a reliable education for kids must be accompanied by quality schooling. However, psychological satisfaction is quite important for a childs success in academics. Therefore, the negative feeling by a kid that they are getting less than they deserve due to alcoholism in their parents negates their efforts to achieve their academic potential.

Excessive engagement into alcoholism is a great risk to sustainable employment. It is to be understood here that employment is a major source of economic independence for many families. Not even a single employer can appreciate misconduct by an employee due to the influence of alcohol. It is indeed due to this reason that most organizations have an anti-alcohol policy at workplace.
Even without formal employment, self employment still requires consistence and crucial managerial practices for ensuring a sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. Alcohol abuse can affect both business operation consistence and the individuals customer engagement ability. (Benjamin, Warnken, Kane, Rosenbaum,  Cohen, 2001)Therefore, alcohol can lead to loss of financial independence thus negating the expectations of the other family members an act which can only amount to family abuse or negligence.


Alcohol and its effect on family reliance on adult children
The aim of every parent is to see the success of their children both socially and economically. True still is the fact that many parents invest in their children with hope that they will in sustaining them during their old age of life. However, such are not always the case especially when the children become victims of alcoholism. Substance abusers are marked with relationship breakdowns and high rates of unemployment. This means that parents of families with alcoholic adults are at risk of undergoing a financial crisis andor a reduction in their living standards due to eminent lack of financial assistance from their children (Fonts, 2001).

Alcohol has been identified to negate ones ability to control their judgmental and anger management abilities. Available statistical evidence clearly depicts that young adults living in problem drinking families have an estimated 22.4 percent potential of indulging in using alcohol in a risky manner at their early ages (Haugland,  Strom, 2005). Still, according to this statistics, an approximated 16 percent of these adults have experienced trauma in their families. It is to be appreciated that such traumas instill a sense of rebellion by children from family matters. Therefore, the family will be marked with more instances of domestic conflicts resulting from the alcoholic adults of the family, an act which reverse the stressful life that their children experienced during their childhood.

Criminology in the society has been closely associated with misuse of substances among the young population in the society. According to statistics on criminology in the American nation, an estimated over 70 percent are youths (Yeon, Ackerman,  Felson, 2003). Among this, a great percentage is victims of substance abuse. The expectation of the society on the youth as well as other members of the society and families is sustainable reliability. However, with the poor influence of alcohol and its effects on family abuse, many families live to stand the test of time for failing to model the character of their children.

Still, alcohol and its effects on family abuse are not limited to the immediate family but more to the future generations of the family. Childhood influence marks the future character traits of the child. According to psychological claims, by copying character traits of other members in the society, a child gains traits which will subconsciously control their future.

It is based on this reasoning that family abuse can easily lead to the production and sustenance of a family abusive generation. This is because family abuse or domestic violence has been found to be more of a behavioral influence rather than an inborn human trait.

Effectiveness of the American law in combating family abuse
The American constitution under the civil rights bill prohibits any form of family abuse. The right to life is the most fundamental human right that should never be taken away from an individual. This constitutional provision asserts the fact that domestic violence leading to murdering of a spouse is subject to criminal justice system due procedures (Fonts, 2001).

Another law is the federal laws found in the Violence against Women Act of 1994. It has been evident that most domestic violence acts in the society are executed on women (Bell, 2003). It is due to this reason that the violence against women was enacted. The law seeks to address issues affecting domestic violence victims.

The act also provided over 1 billion to assist in the provision of shelter for the victims and offer training to law enforcement and court personnel as well as providing support for other agencies seeking to prevent domestic violence against women. The law also allows for television coverage of domestic violence related court trails.

Other laws which prohibit family abuse include the law of compulsory education to children, which mitigates acts of negligence on children by their parents. The law on freedom of association is another crucial law in mitigating family abuse in the American society. This is because it allows for a legal dissolution of a marriage either by divorce or separation.

However, despite all these laws acts of family abuse and negligence are still witnessed in the American society. This is attributed to the ineffectiveness of the domestic violence movement in identifying and addressing the needs of all victims of domestic violence. Despite the fact that an estimated one third of American women fall victims of domestic violence once in their lifetime, it is only a small percentage that get shelter.

Alcoholism and the future of the family unit in the society
Alcoholism has been evidently cited by both professional researchers and civil rights organization as a major drawback in realizing a just and fair family unit in the society (Bell, 2003). According to research findings there have been a growing trend of alcohol abuse among members of the American society. Also, it has been universally accepted by academic professionals that alcohol has the effect of reducing the anger control capabilities of an individual. It is thus clear that the ever increasing abuse of alcohol in the American community poses a great danger to the realization of a sustainable family unit in the society.

Human rights activists on the other hand claim failure by the government to mitigate the use of alcohol among the underage in the society. Existing statistic have revealed an increased abuse of substance among the teenage population (Haugland,  Strom, 2005). It is to be stated here that habit is next to nature. Still clear is the fact that alcoholism is mainly a behavioral influence. This means that the continued failure by the government to enact law to mitigate effects of alcohol on family abuse leads to the generation of more alcoholic youths, a factor which could compromise the effort of eliminating domestic violence in the society.

Due to the much concern of alcohol as a tool for overseeing the relationship breakdown and family abuse, the future of the family unit in the society is at stake. The rate of divorce in our society is ever increasing and alcohol abuse has been cited as one major cause of this trend (Fals-Stewart,  OFarrell, 2003). To emphasize the threat that alcohol puts on family unity, there are many non-governmental organization engaged in creating public awareness on the effects of drug abuse in society. Such organizations include the Voices against Violence movement by young lawyers and the Feminist Majority organization among others fighting against domestic violence.

Despite all these efforts on creating awareness on the negative impact that alcohol poses on family unity, incidences of family abuse due to alcohol are still common in the society. This means that the existing laws on family abuse are not effective. Still it is evident that there is need for increased funding of non-governmental organizations dealing with sheltering domestic violence victims and creating public awareness.

Recommendations
Owing to the importance respecting and upholding our American culture as it pertains to family unity, the following recommendations are made first, there is need for the federal government to expend its funding for the implementation of the Violence against Women Act of 1994. It has been rightly claimed that despite the devoted efforts to provide shelter for victims of domestic violence, the agency can only service a small fraction of such victims due to lack of fund.

Another problem facing the society is the perception that domestic violence should be treated as a private matter. This deters the law enforcement agency from enforcing the anti-domestic violence laws due to lack of communication by the victims. This can only be solved by enhancing public awareness efforts as such will enable the general public to understand and appreciate their human rights.

The use of legal drugs such as alcohol has received much concern in the society. These drugs are indeed a major reason behind family abuse among other negative effects in the society. It is the high time the American government puts in place steeper laws to regulate the use of legal drugs. Such should include legal punishments for excessive use as well as provisions to mitigate their use as an excuse for family abuse. Such a move will serve to mitigate the abusive use of alcohol thus greatly reducing its effects on family abuse in the society.

The last recommendation is the effectiveness found in applying the existing laws on family abuse. The law is always marked with legal loopholes. This makes the execution of justice quite difficulty in the society. It is based on this reasoning that there is need for the government to improve its efforts of training both law enforcement officers and court judges on the most effective ways of executing justice on domestic violence cases. Such cases should also be allowed to be addressed in the equitable and common law courts of our nation.

Conclusion
From the discussion, it is quite clear that alcohol is a leading cause of family abuse in the society. This is mainly because it can easily lead to poor financial budgeting as well as causing family negligence. Due to the fact that alcohol reduces anger inhibiting ability of an individual while increasing aggression, it is logical to conclude that it can lead to family violence in a family. Therefore, it should be in the concern of the American government and all other stakeholders in the society to engage in finding effective ways of resolving the ever growing problem of alcohol abuse in the society.