Alcoholism and its Effects on a Family Alcoholism, although thought primarily for its impact on the alcoholic himself, is also a very present problem in the downfall of his friends and their families' lives. Someone who could be a great, fully functional person to his or her family can be extremely dangerous, dishonest, and destructive while under the influence of alcohol. This example occurs in "The Glass Castle" with Rex Walls and also occurs regularly in our society today, such as in the case of abusive parents and husbands. Without alcohol Rex was intelligent, responsible, honest and an overall respectable father figure, but under the influence he would break down his entire family mentally and physically. The effects of alcoholism can indirectly abuse a family due to the immense change in behavior and disrupt the family's daily life in many ways. When Rex promises Jeanette that he will stop drinking altogether for her birthday, Jeannette believes him. Sooner or later this promise is broken and Jeanette is mentally wounded by the disappointment suffered by Rex. “I couldn't believe he went back to alcohol” (Walls 23), Jeanette says after being disgusted by her father's dishonest and false claim of complete abstinence from all alcoholic beverages. Alcoholism will not only bring you down, but it will also take your entire family on a roller coaster of pain and suffering. Now he's successful, he can never forget his resentful past. The girl in the article was traumatized by what happened and will never be the same again. Alcoholism is an ongoing problem that needs to be resolved in families due to starvation and abuse, and mental problems will forever be alive in children suffering from alcoholic parents. If alcohol was not present in either family, both fathers would have been able to meet all the needs of the family thanks to all the great qualities they possessed when they were not. drink alcohol. Alcoholism is an ongoing problem that needs to be resolved so that families can escape unfortunate situations and not get any worse. If this problem can be reduced, fewer families and children will be in difficulty each year.