Dear Cynthya,

It is true that children of alcoholics are four times more likely to develop alcohol problems. While there is less research on children of drug abusers, it appears that similar risks exist.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, how family members behave and treat each other has a significant influence on their risk of substance abuse as well. The following factors have been found to add to the risk: An alcoholic parent is depressed or has other psychological problems; both parents abuse alcohol and other drugs; the parent’s alcohol abuse is severe; and conflicts lead to aggression and violence in the family.

The good news is that many children of alcoholics from even the most troubled families do not develop drinking problems. Their risk for alcoholism is higher but it does not guarantee that they’ll have a drinking problem.

The best way to avoid this risk completely is to avoid alcohol and drug use. While more than half of all children of alcoholics do not become alcoholics, experimenting with drugs or alcohol significantly increases your risk. Besides being illegal, research shows that the risks of substance abuse are higher among people who begin drinking or using drugs at an early age.