Background:

One of the western world´s foremost public health problems is alcohol addiction. There is no exactly definition of what alcohol addiction is, but the medical perspective of it as a disease dominate the picture of it. It´s not only the person with the alcohol addiction who is affected of it. Next of kin have to deal with physical and psychical problems and social alienation. The interaction goes both ways, between the alcohol addicted and the next of kin. It´s common for the next of kin to slip into codependency, to excuse the behavior and to take the blame for it.

Aim:

The aim of this study is to illustrate experiences of being next of kin to persons with alcohol addiction.

Method:

The bachelor´s thesis is a literature review based on both quantitative and qualitative research with a dominance of qualitative research. A total of thirty-one articles were selected out, where nine were analyzed.

Result:

The most experiences of being next of kin to a person with alcohol addiction are negative. The next of kin find their quality of life deteriorated in several areas because of the person with alcohol addiction. The surrounding can be both supporting and inhibiting. The result shows that an awakening can occur and that the next of kin can find quality in life and themselves again.

Conclusion:

To be a next of kin to an alcohol addicted person affects life negatively in many ways. The quality of life impairs with increased burden at home, on the economy and on parenting. The social environment can be supporting, but it can also give the next of kin the blame for the problematic alcohol consumption and the next of kin has to face shame and guilt. Despite the negative impact of the relatives, the next of kin regains life and identity.

Knowledge of the next of kin´s experiences is meant to encourage professionals to pay attention to the negative effects of alcohol addiction in close relationships