While there have been articles before on this blog about Adult Children of Alcoholics and Substance Abusers, we have been derelict in not mentioning that the Children of Alcoholics Week was on February 14 - 20th.
Almost 50% of GCASA's 1050 admissions in 2009 identified themselves as having been children of substance abusers. We know that there is a 4 to 5 times greater chance that children of substance abusers will become substance abusers themselves.
It is valid to describe substance abuse as a family disease. The substance abuse not only affects the person who is abusing substances but all the people that that person has relationships with and the more intense and involved those relationships the greater the negative consequences.
One of the prevention models to help children who are growing up with substance abusing parents is to teach them the 7 Cs:
You didn't cause it,
You can't control it,
You can't cure it,
Take care of yourself,
Communicate your feelings
Make healthy choices
Celebrate yourself.
The first three are especially important.
Check out the National Association of Children Of Alcoholics by clicking here.
GCASA has many services for children of alcoholics. For more information contact Maryann Bowman, the Director of Prevention, at 585-815-1877
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