[Stephanie Brown], who came from an alcoholic household, said ACA patients have for years sought help for ailments for which the real cause was not pinpointed by health professionals, a big percentage of whom have been found to be children of alcoholics themselves.

Brown said studies of ACA patients show that similar patterns develop within families of alcoholics that involve strong denial of the addiction and the forming of destructive "co-dependent" relationships with the drinking parent. These co-dependent roles, she said, get carried into adult life in the form of distrust, inability to form intimate relationships, a lack of self-esteem and the need to control.

Brown said a large percentage of ACA patients are either practicing alcoholics, recovering alcoholics or harbor a tremendous fear of becoming alcoholic. They also have a 50% chance of marrying an alcoholic, and are about twice as likely to attempt suicide as the general population.