Children of alcoholics and other parents dealing with a substance use disorder are often struggling with a multitude of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): early substance use, neglect, family violence and emotional, physical and even sexual abuse. Commonly there is parental separation or divorce, and often one or both parents are dealing with mental illness and incarceration as well as a substance use disorder. The children and teens are among those at highest risk for future physical and mental health problems, having lived in an environment of chronic fear and emotional distress engendered by parental substance use disorder during their critical developmental years. They are a critical mass: at least 1 in 4. Many have been traumatized by adverse childhood experiences. The ACE Study authors have specifically noted this relationship:
- The ACE Study provides population-based clinical evidence that unrecognized adverse childhood experiences are a major, if not the major, determinant of who turns to psychoactive materials and becomes ‘addicted’ (Felitti, 2003).
- Growing up with alcohol abusing parents is strongly related to the risk of experiencing other categories of ACEs (Anda, 2010).
When we mention ACEs, we recognize that at the core, we are talking about conditions that produce trauma. The human’s defense system resolves the typical threat through the fight-or-flight response. Since children and teenagers tend to be in exceptionally vulnerable, dependant positions, they lack the ability to battle or run from what is scary or threatening. Further they lack the adequate skills to articulate what traumatic experiences they are having, or to prevent them from repeating over and over. The trauma compounds with each and every episode that takes place, burrowing deeper and deeper into the subconscious.
Since 1988, the annual observance of the international COA Awareness Week has provided all of us the opportunity to strengthen our focus on the hidden and often ugly reality of the silent suffering of COAs who are right in front of us. This campaign strives to break the painful silence and offer hope to children and teens in these families. This year's theme "Become the Star in the Life of a Child" emphasizes that while these children struggle with this unresolved conflict --in the darkness of fear, feeling alone, and oftentimes saddled with the responsibilities of taking care of younger siblings-- it only takes one caring and supportive adult to make a difference. Offer a listening ear and a warm heart, so that the child or teenager can articulate what is happening to them. By reassuring that they are not the cause of the problem, they cannot cure or control the problem, but they can take care of themselves by finding a "safe person,” a supportive adult can do much to help change the trajectory of a child’s life.
NACoA CEO Sis Wenger: "COA Awareness Week is a gift that keeps on giving. So long as those who care make sure that the personal support is given, programs get established and are available, and adults learn that keeping the silence when the child does is harmful. Clarity and validation are powerful. When we help to break the silence, we can see these boys and girls move from being children at risk to children of promise."
Visit www.nacoa.org to learn more about the campaign, to explore tools to get more involved and explore resources to help families and the professionals who work directly with children.
Comments (0)