Breaking the Cycle of Addiction:

241 Children of alcoholics (COA’s) are at increased risk for a wide range of behavioral and emotional problems, including addiction to alcohol and other drugs (AOD’s), depression, anxiety, school failure, and delinquency (Adger 1997; Emshoff and Anyan 1989; Sher 1991). Prevention and intervention efforts attempt to reduce this risk by modifying riskassociated factors. In general, prevention programs target children because of the behavior of an adult caregiver, rather than because of the child’s own behavior. Intervention programs, however, usually target children who have begun to exhibit symptoms themselves, such as depression, poor academic performance, or problems getting along with their peers. Several types of programs have been developed to assist COA’s. Although a program may focus primarily on either prevention or intervention, most programs include elements of both. Therefore, this article discusses both types of programs somewhat interchangeably. In addition, the discussion primarily focuses on programs provided in group settings.