|  | Family Health | Substance Abuse

Resources for Children of Alcoholics

One in five adult Americans has lived with an alcoholic while growing up, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Children of alcoholics can feel alone, embarrassed, angry, unloved and depressed. They can also feel responsible for their parents' drinking even though this is never true. Alcoholism isn't just a drinker's disease, it's a family illness affecting everyone in the household . There are, however, resources available to help the children of alcoholics.

  1. Al-Anon Family Groups

    • Al-Anon is a service for the families of alcoholics and is run along similar lines to Alcoholics Anonymous. There are regular meetings where parents, siblings and children of alcoholics or recovering alcoholics can gather and share their experiences. You don't have to talk or share if you don't want to and it's perfectly fine to sit and listen to other people in the same situation as you.

    Alateen Help for Children of Alcoholics

    • The Alateen fellowship is another branch of the same service as Al-Anon that caters specifically to young people living with alcoholism. The anonymity of both groups is of paramount importance and what you hear or share in the rooms always stays in the rooms.

    National Association for Children of Alcoholics

    • Children of alcoholics are four times as likely as other children to become alcoholics themselves, according to the National Association from Children of Alcoholics. Understanding the disease of alcoholism and how it works can help prevent a child from becoming addicted. The NACA's mission is to educate community leaders about the family fallout of addiction, raise public awareness and help young people get practical help. Their website has a comprehensive range of services and details of upcoming events nationwide

    Above The Influence Website

    • This is an interactive website for young people about how to get help with drink and drugs. There's an entire section dedicated to children of alcoholics and drug addicts with a helpline number for immediate help too. Their hotline is anonymous, so you can call without fear of being identified.

    Teens Health

    • This website's section for children of alcoholics addresses specific problems common to kids in these situations and is written in a simple, clear and accessible manner. Find the pages in the "Your Mind" section, listed under "Families." As well as offering scenarios you'll identify with to stop you feeling isolated, this article explains what steps to take to look after yourself. It suggests becoming informed, learning healthy coping strategies and acknowledging that the problem exists to someone outside the family.

Substance Abuse - Related Articles