Adult children of alcoholics--a treatable entity: an aviation case report.

This is a case report of a male naval aviator, raised in an alcoholic environment, and the impact of that environment on his development and adult functioning. A review of the adult children of alcoholics syndrome is presented to help familiarize the reader with this evolving entity and its probable impact on aviation personnel. In the United States, current estimates indicate that parental alcoholism affects 27 million children. Only about 5% of these children are receiving any evaluation, supportive care, or treatment. This case of a naval aviator affected by this syndrome illustrates the need for its recognition and potential for treatment and modification of maladaptive behavior. As a treatment entity, recognition of the adult children of alcoholics syndrome will hopefully have a positive effect upon aviation safety and will help save a valuable national asset, our trained aviation personnel.