CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS AWARENESS WEEK
The National Association of Children of Alcoholics (NACoA) designates the week in February that includes Valentine’s Day as Children of Alcoholics Week. It is to highlight the needs and problems of children of alcoholic parents, regardless of their age.
Children are the ones most often hurt by the abuse of alcohol and other addictive substances. The two-fold purpose of the awareness week is to improve understanding of how children of alcoholics (COAs) are affected by the drinking problems of their parents. The observance also offers support for the children to help with recovery from the trauma of substance abuse and addiction in their families. The impact of addiction may last well into adulthood.
One support organization is Adult Children of Alcoholics World Service Organization, Inc., generally known simply as Adult Children of Alcoholics, (ACA). This organization is an anonymous 12-Step, 12-Tradition program for men and women who grew up in families with an alcoholic parent or homes that were dysfunctional in other ways.
HOW TO OBSERVE #ChildrenOfAlcoholicsWeek #COAWeek
During the week, seek information about recovery and how to support children of families affected by substance abuse. Organizations like NACoA, Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, SAMHSA, and Adult Children of Alcoholics provide valuable resources. There are several ways to participate in the week-long observance:
- Join a support group.
- Read books like:
- The Loving Parent Guidebook
- I Love You, More: Short Stories of Addiction, Recovery, and Loss From A Family’s Perspective by Blake E. Cohen
- Addict in the House: A No-Nonsense Family Guide Through Addiction and Recovery by Robin Barnett EdD LCSW
- Share your experiences.
Join the conversation and use #COAWeek to follow.
Follow NACoA on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and get more involved with COA Awareness Week.
CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS AWARENESS WEEK HISTORY
It appears the first designated week began in England after 1991 and then came to the United States. Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon first addressed the issue of children of alcoholics in 1955. In 1979, Al-Anon and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism focused on children of alcoholics. The Children of Alcoholics went public in 1986.