They may have low self-esteem and experience difficulty expressing their feelings and asking for help, learning to problem solve, and learning to share. How You Can Help Encourage health care professionals, faith communities, and counselors to include information in their newsletters and other publications about the prevalence of children living with addicted parents. Children of Alcoholics Resource Guide , and Alcoholism Tends to Run in Families to school libraries and guidance counselors. Request that community counselors implement support groups for children of clients in treatment. Also, help connect youth to Alateen or other school support services.
Children of alcoholics are less likely to receive quality mental stimulation at home.
Consequently, they are more likely to have underdeveloped language and reasoning skills. Studies also show that children of alcoholics are vulnerable to mental illness and medical problems and that they are more likely than others to become alcoholics and addicts, said Bridget F. Grant, Ph.D., in the January 2000 issue of the American Journal of Public Health . You deserve help for yourself There are people and places that can help You can get help and feel better even if your parent doesn't stop drinking or using drugs. In recognition of National Children of Alcoholics Week, NACoA has planned its annual poster contest for children in grades K-8. Many People Can Help Me , and schools and youth organizations are encouraged to participate in the poster contest following a discussion about the impact that chemical dependency has on families.