After presenting some vignettes of how adult children of alcoholics perceive their childhood experiences, the book identifies typical roles children adopt within the family as they attempt to cope with the unpredictable behaviors of their alcoholic parents and the patterns these roles take in adulthood. Some of the issues considered are why children of alcoholics become alcoholic or marry an alcoholic, what can be done to help children and adults from alcoholic homes, and how adults from alcoholic homes can restructure their lives. Particular attention is given to the emotional and behavioral consequences of being the child of an alcoholic, namely, not to talk, trust, or feel. Guidelines are provided for the nonalcoholic spouse regarding how to help children cope constructively with the behaviors of the alcoholic parent. The concluding chapter provides an overview of the association between alcoholism and physical and/or sexual abuse in the family. The discussion explains why, when both problems exist in a family, they must be identified and treated. Resources are suggested. Appended screening tests for alcoholics and children of alcoholics.