What should you do if your husband is frequently drunk around the kids?
It can be a dangerous situation if your husband is frequently drunk around the children. Ensuring the children's safety should be the first priority. Then encourage him to get treatment and to seek professional help. And remember to document the behavior.
Alcohol Can Be A Serious Issue
As Georgia divorce lawyers a common question we get is: "My husband is drunk around the kids, what can I do?" We get this question way more than you might think. Of course, the wife can be intoxicated around the children - alcohol doesn't discriminate.
Obviously, being frequently drunk around children is a cause for serious concern.
It can potentially endanger the kid’s safety and well-being. It is certainly not in the best interest of a child to have a parent drunk around them and acting dangerously or simply not in control of his or her actions or passed-out.
Alcohol is often abused, and you need to know what to do when this issue arises, which it does with alarming regularity here in Georgia. We wanted to write a blog post addressing this issue as it can have profound implications for such family law areas as child custody, visitation, and child support .
What To Do When a Parent is Drunk Around the Children
Here are some steps to consider taking in this situation:
- Ensure Immediate Safety: If your husband is visibly intoxicated and unable to care for the children, it's crucial to ensure their immediate safety. If necessary, remove the children from the situation to a safe place.
- Have a Calm Conversation: Talk to your husband about his alcohol use and the impact it has on the children and the family. Try to have this conversation when he is sober and approach it in a non-confrontational and empathetic manner.
- Seek Professional Help: If your husband's drinking is a recurrent problem, it may be necessary to seek professional help, such as a therapist, counselor, or addiction specialist, to address the underlying issues and work toward recovery.
- Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries about alcohol use in your home and around the children. Make it clear what behavior is unacceptable and what the consequences will be if those boundaries are not respected.
- Support for Yourself and Your Children: Ensure that you and your children have access to emotional support during this challenging time. Consider seeking counseling or joining a support group to help you cope with the situation.
- Consider Legal Options: In cases where your husband's alcohol use poses a serious risk to your children's well-being, you may need to explore legal options, such as seeking custody or visitation modifications to ensure their safety.
- Encourage Treatment: If your husband is willing, encourage him to seek treatment for his alcohol misuse. This may include therapy, counseling, support groups, or inpatient rehabilitation programs.
- Document the Behavior: If necessary, keep a record of instances when your husband is drunk around the children, as this documentation may be useful in legal proceedings or when seeking professional help.
The Most Abused Drug: Alcohol
Due to its legality, alcohol isn’t always perceived as a dangerous substance (like meth, cocaine, LSD, or mushrooms, for example); indeed, alcohol can be purchased easily at any convenience store, supermarket, etc. However, in Georgia, alcohol addiction causes the highest rate of related deaths and rehab admissions by far, no drug even comes close.
According to recently published research, alcohol is the most harmful drug in the state, based on the number of people admitted to addiction treatment programs for dependence; it is followed by prescription opiates such as hydrocodone and oxycodone.
Safety is the Priority
It's essential to prioritize your children's safety and well-being in this situation. Alcohol misuse can have serious consequences and can have a profound effect on a family law or divorce case. It can impact areas like visitation and child custody.
It's crucial to address the issue promptly and effectively. Seek the support of trusted friends and family members and consider consulting with a family law attorney if the situation escalates to a point where legal intervention is required to protect your children. When you need an experienced and knowledgeable family law attorney, call us immediately!