Drug and alcohol services for children and young people
Drugs and alcohol can dramatically affect your development in a number of ways including:
- disturbed sleep
- headaches
- mental ill health
- liver damage
More information on the risks of drinking alcohol underage is on the Drinkaware website.
They can also impact your future, limiting your physical and educational development as your learning ability, attention span and memory are all affected by drugs and alcohol use.
Exam stress, schoolwork, family breakdowns and domestic abuse are all factors that could push you to using drugs or drinking, but help is available to find different ways to cope with these difficult situations and many others.
Young people and others’ substance misuse
“You can’t control someone else’s drinking or behaviour” and “remember your mum or dad’s drinking is not, and never was, your fault”. NACOA (The National Association for Children of Alcoholics)
It can be frightening if your mum or dad, brother or sister drinks too much, no matter what age you are. You may think you’re different to your friends and believe no one could understand how you feel, but 1 in 5 children in the UK live with parents who drink too much.
Alcohol affects the brain which can result in parents say things that they don’t mean. Drinking can become so important to them that they may hurt or upset those closest to them. Try to remember the 6 Cs:
- Cause: I didn’t cause it
- Cure: I can’t cure it
- Control: I can’t control it
- Care: I can take care of myself
- Communicate: I can communicate my feelings
- Choices: I can make healthy choices
Because your parents/carers can only stop drinking when they’re ready, it’s important that you get the help you need to cope.
Talking to someone who won’t judge you is really important, and hearing about other people’s experiences can help you to understand that your feelings towards your mum or dad and their drinking are normal. Making time for yourself and meeting other people in the same situation can help you to make friends who understand what you’re going through, while talking to a councillor might help you to understand your emotions better.