Introducing NACOA
Following the success of our official launch event, we wanted to spotlight one of our charities that we were raising money for; NACOA, the National Association for Children of Alcoholics. We were lucky enough to have ambassadors of the charity attend our event, Be The Spirit. Our event was a no-alcohol, corporate event. The reasoning for this decision stems from our founder Alex Clapp’s journey with his struggle with alcohol. Alex experienced firsthand the detrimental effects of his alcoholism along with the impact it had on his family.
A staggering 1 in 5 children live with a parent who struggles with drinking. With such a high number of children dealing with the effects of their parents’ drinking, it is vital that NACOA continues its beneficial work as it offers refuge and support to those that need it most. NACOA was the perfect choice for Claritee as our missions are aligned. We believe in spreading awareness of the effects of addiction whilst offering support to those suffering from such an affliction.
Effects on Family
In his recent BBC documentary detailing his own alcohol and substance addiction, Matt Willis highlighted how naturally the focus immediately goes to the individual suffering. However, the family and loved ones of the said individual are enduring an isolating, painful journey themselves. For the children of alcohol sufferers, it can be an incredibly confusing experience due to their age and limited understanding of what is actually happening. At such a pivotal time in their lives, childhood is the stage where behaviours and perceptions are formed. Yet living with a parent who drinks can be a volatile time, ultimately influencing a child’s formative years. There can be a catalogue of effects felt by children such as not being able to fully engage in fun moments, becoming more introverted and quieter in order to not be noticed, feeling distant from those around them, feeling unsure and out of control and feeling on edge due to the erratic nature alcohol can cause.
With confusion rife, it is understandable that a parent’s loss of control with drinking creates isolation as children are not equipped with how to handle the precarious environment that alcoholism breeds. There are multiple consequences, emotionally, for children of drinkers but the predominant effects appear to be common factors amongst the young demographic.
Many drinkers may not realise their issue with drinking or may not want to share their reasoning for their reliance on alcohol, in order to protect their children. This lack of transparency can lead to unanswered questions for children and lead them to believe that they are different from their peers as they carry the burden of what is going on at home. Children’s self esteem can plummet to dangerous depths, causing them to turn to other resolutions or coping mechanisms in order to deal with their situations. There have been recorded cases of children having suicidal thoughts, self harming and turning to drink and substances themselves in order to dull the overwhelm they are feeling. This doesn’t have to be the only solution for children with alcohol dependent parents, with the right support, children who have had these tendencies can grow into happy, fulfilled adolescents and adults with the required guidance they need.
Many children have reported feeling as though they are hiding or covering for that particular parent out of loyalty and fear of negative repercussions that will increase the drinking at home. Vicky Pattison was appointed a patron of NACOA earlier this year due to her experience with her father and his alcoholism. Vicky recalls feeling a deep sense of loyalty towards her dad and the need to cover up as much as possible in order to save his reputation; “‘I felt so alone growing up with alcoholism in the family. You blame yourself and wonder what you are doing wrong. Why can’t they love you enough to stop? ‘As an adult, I now know that there was nothing I could have done, but I wish I had known NACOA existed and that you are never alone—there is always someone who understands.”
NACOA’s Work
NACOA provides a resource and support system for parents and their children dealing with the numerous effects of alcoholism in their home. First and foremost, the charity provides information for alcohol dependent parents and their offspring by introducing them to professionals that can help them on their individual journeys with expert advice and thorough research into what is widely recognised as a disease in the medical community. NACOA provides an anonymous helpline for those affected by excessive drinking and has its own personal promise and pledge to those it helps:
“We are here to listen
We won’t judge
We are here to help for as long as you want
What you say will remain confidential”
With its plethora of resources, NACOA has a wealth of information available to better the lives of parents and children suffering at the hands of alcoholism. This is only made possible with the generous donations made to the charity, allowing their crucial work to continue and better the lives of so many afflicted with this issue. As the organisation grows, awareness within society can be raised minimising the stigma surrounding alcohol addiction and hopefully, reaching more families that require the support that NACOA can offer.
Claritee is proud to support NACOA and we were honoured to have ambassadors of the charity attend our first event in Liverpool. We held an ongoing silent auction and multiple fundraising games for our guests to participate in to raise as much money as possible for a cause near to the Claritee heart. For more information and to make a donation please visit:
https://nacoa.org.uk/get-involved/donating/donate/
or call NACOA’s free helpline 0800 358 3456
