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 Don’t
Forget the Children
By Susan
Jenkins, BRiDGES
An estimated one in
four children under the age of 18 is impacted by a parent or guardian who
has a problem with alcohol. Children of Alcoholics Week: A Celebration of Hope
and Healing is celebrated internationally from February 14-20, 2010. The week
is designated to raise the public’s awareness of the impact addiction has on
children.
Living in a home where someone drinks too much is different
for every child. It is not always obvious by looking at the child or the family
that alcoholism or addiction is a problem. In some homes, the drinking is done
in secret, and the only ones who know are the family. For others, the whole
community knows there is a problem, but rarely does anyone say anything.
And, what about the children? Some children, because of
behavior or attendance problems, are noticed by the caring adults in their
lives and receive help. Physical, sexual or verbal abuse and/or neglect may
bring the family to the attention of the school or the authorities. Many other
children, though, will work very hard to succeed and will shine at academics,
sports and other endeavors despite their troubles at home. Adults may suspect
or even know there is a problem, but they don’t want to get involved. It is
easy to rationalize that “things can’t be that
bad” when the young person is a model student.
Well-meaning adults who are aware of the drinking problem
may say nothing because the young person is saying nothing. By playing it safe,
adults deprive that young person of the opportunity to let them know they care.
By breaking the silence, the young person gets the message that they have been
noticed, they are not alone and help is available.
It can be hard to know what to do. For more information
call: BRiDGES, the
Madison County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc. at 697-3947 or
toll free at 866 443-5744. Or, call the Addiction Services Helpline at
1-877-8HOPENY. Find help for alcoholism, drug abuse and problem gambling 24
hours a day, 7 days a week.
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