Alcoholism is a family disease because it affects the family as a whole and each member individually. Living with alcohol abuse means being in an unsafe environment filled with disruptions to normal routines, the tension of strained relationships, and dishonesty. The disease of alcoholism affects every family member's life, attitude, and way of thinking perhaps more dramatically than it does for the drinker.  Although more than 10% of kids live with a parent who has alcohol problems, your family's situation may also involve an alcoholic teen. There are over 861,000 kids ages 12 to 20 who use alcohol heavily according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism