It’s not just alcoholics who are affected by addiction, but also the people around them, especially family and friends. The impact of alcoholism on children was highlighted by the National Association for Children of Alcoholics. Their helpline received 32,000 calls and emails last year, with children as young as five asking for bedtime stories because their parents were too drunk to put them to bed.
An all-party parliamentary group, led by Labour MPs Liam Byrne and Caroline Flint, has been working to ensure government policy is in place to support these children’s needs. They have called for a national strategy to deal with the issue which affects 2.5 million children in the UK.
We want to hear your stories of growing up around alcohol addiction and how it affected you. Given the sensitive nature of this topic, we would be happy for you to submit your story anonymously or using a pseudonym. We can also only accept responses from people who are over the age of 16.
Share your experiences
Tell us about the impact of alcoholism on you growing up. What’s your relationship with your parents like now? What support did you have and what do you think should be in place for young people?
