As we close out COA Awareness Week – Children of Alcoholics- February 9 – February 15 let’s focus on the sad, skewed, inebriated love that often drives the ego drama. Hopefully, the following may shed light on some of the secretive family behavioral issues that play out in many dysfunctional situations.
To begin, the term Children of Addiction (COA) refers to people who grow or grew up in households where one or both parents struggle with alcohol or drug misuse.
What can we do to help? Well, since you’ve asked, research convincingly demonstrates that children of alcohol or drug–addicted parents convincingly demonstrates that children of alcohol or drug-addicted parents are more likely to be subjected to multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). “Experiences like growing up with parental addiction, and the chaos and stress that surround it, pop up over and over again as primary causes of toxic stress…once a home environment is disordered, the risk of witnessing or experiencing emotional, physical, or sexual abuse rises dramatically (Robert Anda, et al., 2006).
Studies have demonstrated that, when the impacted family members, including young children, receive the support they need to heal, families reunite successfully at a greater pace, … emotional and physical health and behavior all improve, making it possible for the children to change the trajectory of their lives.
If there are children, teenagers, young adults, and children at heart who you know are suffering in silence, be their voice, be their light, be their hope, be spiritually bold, and change the trajectory of their lives.
Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too (Philippians 2:4 NLT).
