Held back by broken alcoholic family (4)
I believe the answer is:
clan
'family' is the definition.
(I know that clan is a type of family)
'held back by broken alcoholic' is the wordplay.
'back by' is a reversal indicator.
'held' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'nalc' is hidden in the letters of 'broken alcoholic'.
'nalc' backwards is 'CLAN'.
(Other definitions for clan that I've seen before include "People related by blood and marriage" , "Large family forming close group, big in Scotland" , "Tribe or collection of families under a cheiftain" , "Highland grouping" , "Kin group" .)