Analyzing current data on the topic of children and sexual abuse, approximately one million children in the United States suffer some form of abuse. This can manifest in sexual abuse and/or neglect. (Sapienza 1993). As we have discovered, childhood sexual abuse is one of myriad types of violence linked to alcohol use and abuse. Whether the use of alcohol as a consequence or as a causal factor. Substance abuse in the family can contribute to the abusive treatment of children within the family unit. Research has suggested that children who have been abused by their parents may show a greater risk of developing substance abuse as adults. Child abuse has been shown to exist in many different forms, including psychological abuse, neglect, physical abuse. abuse, emotional abuse and sexual violence. (Sapienza 1989). The term physical abuse in this document refers to all types of mistreatment that results in physical injury. The list of physical injuries manifests as bruises, contusions, lacerations or broken bones. Child sexual abuse also incorporates a variation of behaviors, ranging from fondling, touching, sodomy, incest or rape. Childhood sexual abuse also includes nonphysical factors such as masturbating in front of a child, sharing pornographic images, and having the child observe sexual intercourse. Child neglect, for this research is defined as a situation in which a child receives inadequate care from a parent. This includes the situation where the care provided to a child falls below social norms. For example, a parent or caregiver does not provide adequate sustenance, clothing, shelter, or care from a medical professional... middle of paper... or substance abuse and is therefore unwilling or diminishes one's responsibility for their abusive behavior.3. The disinhibition hypothesis: This concept suggests that the pharmacological actions of the abused substance in the brain prevent the normal actions of brain centers that control socially inappropriate behavior. In most cases, the perpetrator could be the substance-abusing parent or another individual. Numerous studies have established the link between experiences of childhood sexual abuse and family histories of substance abuse (Miller et al. 1997). Similarly, Vogeltanz and colleagues (1999) recognized parental substance abuse as an important risk factor for childhood sexual abuse..