Alcoholism Recovery & Treatment

Well, I’ve been around for exactly your time frame. If you are talking about drug use, I’d say that , really, just the mere fact of drugs being available has influenced the use of them , more than any other factor. We see situations constantly, where a kid from a really good, loving home will try drugs, get hooked, and they are addicted. I’ve seen my husband’s son in just this situation….the only values that influence him are his needs for drugs, and his upbringing and continuing love from his family mean nothing to him.
Drugs were not in use when I was a kid, they probably arrived in my neck of the woods when I was in my early 20’s and I never did try any of them. Family values weren’t relevant to the situation, I doubt that my parents would have even known what they were.
If you are talking about alcohol abuse…well, thats something that has been around since Adam was a boy. I do think that when we were young, it was more the adults that drank. Kids, yes to a degree, but most of the heavy alcohol usage was done by our parents’ . Many of my friends fathers were heavy drinkers, and families often suffered because the father was the breadwinner in those days, mother stayed home and minded the children, and Dad could do what he like with “his” money. Many women had to send one of the kids down to the pub to wait for Dad…my husband was one of those kids who’d wait, rain hail or shine, until Dad was ready to come home after a hard evening on the booze.
I think that kids do a lot more drinking now than we ever did….but I’m not sure that “family values” have a lot to do with it. Maybe in some families, the parents have poor values so the kids drink to feel like they are a part of their peer group. I do also think that the alcohol companies target younger people now, with the “alco-pop” type of drinks which appeal to kids.
You only have to look at the television, all the documentaries on colonies of people all over the world, to see that drinking alcohol is a common thread through all cultures. From the rainforests to the ice fields, all people seem to find ways of making good old alcohol. For some its a nice way to relax after a day’s work, and for others it is a terrible addiction. The place of family values in the equation ? I guess I’d have to say, “who knows?”.
Now, I’ll go and get myself a nice glass of wine ! Its been a long day ! Best wishes for your assignment !
Addit. : re your additional Q, I’m really not sure that I agree with you that family values have declined in the last 50 years. We constantly hear about this, the media is full of ghastly examples of bad family values….and yet I see that families are growing and thriving today just as they always did. There were bad families in the 50’s and 60’s, and there are bad families now. But I don’t agree with your contention that values are declining. Things happened back then which were really nasty, and people didn’t talk about them, covered them up. Girls had backyard abortions, so that the neighbours wouldn’t find out about a pregnancy. Kids were molested by “the family friend”, and were told never to speak of it. Women were beaten by drunken husbands, and there was nowhere for them to go. The glossy picture of “good family values ” that you might have absorbed from reading about those days, may not be a good reflection of what life was really like then. I lived through your time frame, and believe me, families are as good now as they ever were. My thoughts on the use of alcohol remain the same. Best wishes with the assignment !

The decline in family values has poisoned everything and everyone in our country. Kids are in control and have the time and money to do whatever they please. When I was growing up we had a structured life, family responsibilities that had to be met and the understanding that stepping out of line would bring unthinkable consequences. We never knew what those were but were too scared to find out. Looking back, the consequences we feared and suspected was the disappointment of parents who loved us. I raised my kids that way and they managed to escape the worst of the offerings. Now it seems people are letting the kids raise themselves and make their own decisions and we can see how well that is working.

One thing that has contributed to increased drug and alcohol use is the significant spending money young people have because of part-time jobs. Young people have much more mobility today, more free time, and spend too much time with their peers. Decades ago, young people were mentored informally by adult who shared an skill or interest that helped encourage youngsters into the adult world of work or hobbies.

Drugs and Alcohol were not seen as such an evil vise as it was in the generation before 1950. Many children were raised with their parents doing drugs and alcohol. So it is not seen as such an evil thing. That is why the government works so hard on convincing this generation that drugs are bad.

What are family values? Each family has their own values?
It is interesting that the old family values brought us the Civil War, the notorious gang era of the 1920-40s. The hippy movement during the late ’60’s and early ’70’s.
What are family values?

Yes but I also think that the availability of drugs and the casual acceptance of alcohol use by parents has contributed to the decline of the family value system.
I have a good example for you, also. My daughter-in-law and her brother were raised in an affluent family situtation. They traveled world-wide and ate out in higher end restuarants and had many cocktail parties at home. She said they used to (at 8 and 9 yrs old) go around and drink guests partially finished drinks. They went to private but not parochial schools. She recalled that when they ate out that their parents always ordered a Shirley Temple for her and a Roy Rogers for him, so they would have their ‘own’ drinks. They both had serious drug problems in high school and both spent 6-9 months in rehab programs. They kicked the habit then. However, they both drink excessively now and are in their 40s. She consumes 5 2-liter bottles of gin a week. He also drinks a lot and has emotional/psychological problems – and sometimes cannot bring himself to leave his apt because he is ‘afraid’. I don’t know what that is called but he also is on 7 prescription medications from 2 diff doc for his ‘nerves, panic attacks and so he can sleep’ – along with these he consumes humungous amts of alcohol.
Every family story she or he tells starts with something like, ‘and they were 3 sheets in the wind’ – they were ’so drunk’ – etc. It seems that they were brought up to believe you couldn’t have a ‘good time’ unless there was alcohol flowing freely.
It seems to me that the ‘acceptance’ of alcohol as a form of entertainment and that it is what ‘is done’ at parties was a large factor in their lives.
People seem to think that ‘recreational’ drugs are okay at parties and gatherings of the 20’s to 45 age group – an especially of the higher income. This example certainly is not a good one for children. Drugs and alcohol are major factors in relationships failing and divorce proceeding. Once the parents are ’split up’ then the children are in a one parent situation which many single parents seem to handle badly – although I’m sure the fact they are working full time to keep the roof over their heads may be a factor in that.
It seems today’s parents don’t have a thought about how their behavior and example affects their children. It is rare to see well-behaved children anywhere any more.
I hope this helps you.