Compared with children of non-alcoholic parents, children of alcoholics (COAs) report earlier and more frequent use of alcohol as well as tobacco, cannabis, and other illicit drugs, and are at greater risk of alcohol problems during adolescence and adulthood (Lieb et al., 2002; Schuckit and Smith, 1996; Sher et al., 1991). By some reports, COAs are four to six times as likely to develop an alcohol use disorder at some point in their life (Chassin et al., 1991; Russell, 1995). Comparatively less is known about children whose parents abuse other drugs; however, paternal illicit drug use has been linked with earlier tobacco use, and problem use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs (Clark et al., 1998, 1999).
