Hi Partless,

I just Googled the word 'enmeshment' and what Google says is a little close to your definition. It talks more about dependency in families. By the way, Google will give you a definition of any word if you type in: define WORD. In your case, I typed in: define enmeshment. Google's definition is below:

Enmeshment is a state of cross-generational bonding within a family, whereby a child (normally of the opposite sex) becomes a surrogate spouse for their mother or father. The term is also applied more generally to engulfing codependent relationships where an unhealthy symbiosis is in existence.

To answer your question, yes alcoholic families tend to be more enmeshed because they keep each other's secrets. They become codependent and they lie for each other and often, will give money to the alcoholic so he or she can buy booze.