Complete Master Addiction Counselor Practice Test 2025

The correct answer is that the effect on children's risk factors if an alcoholic parent obtains treatment is typically protective. When an alcoholic parent seeks and receives treatment, it can lead to significant improvements in the family dynamics, emotional stability, and overall environment for the child.

Research indicates that effective treatment can reduce the parent's alcohol-related behaviors, promote healthier coping strategies, and enhance communication within the family. This change often mitigates the adverse effects associated with parental alcoholism, such as neglect, emotional instability, and exposure to high-stress situations. As a result, children can experience improved mental health outcomes, lower levels of anxiety and depression, and a decreased risk of developing substance use disorders themselves.

While the age of the child and the living situation may influence the dynamics and adjustments required post-treatment, treatment itself stands as a promising intervention that generally reduces risk factors associated with parental addiction, regardless of the child's age or whether they still live at home. Hence, the understanding that treatment does not provide any protective effect for children is not supported by the evidence in the field, highlighting the protective factors that treatment can establish for children of alcoholic parents.