Drugs & Alcohol > Help for Kids with Alcoholic Parents Get help, read this and make that call. If you are in a family where somebody drinks too much alcohol (like beer, wine, or whiskey), some painful and confusing things may be happening to you. You may think you are the only person who is in a family like that. The truth is that there are almost 14 million alcoholic people in the United States. They are hurting a lot inside, and they often hurt or neglect their families as well. If your family is troubled like this, it's important for you to know that you are not alone. There are people who will understand, listen, and help. Alcoholism is a disease that can happen to anybody--rich, poor, or in-between. But not everybody who drinks a lot has the disease of alcoholism. Alcoholic people have a special health problem that makes them unable to control their drinking once they begin. If your family has the disease of alcoholism, your parents may often say and do things to each other and to you that they don't mean and that they may not remember when they are sober. You may start to think that if you are good and do things right and really try hard enough, you can make your alcoholic parent stop drinking. You may feel that something you're doing or not doing is causing the drinking. But this is not true. You are not the cause of the drinking, and nothing you do can stop it. You did not cause the alcoholism in your family, and only your alcoholic parent can solve the problem, with the proper help. It's important for you to know that you don't deserve to be hurt. If your parent is drunk and loses control and hurts you, you need to tell a neighbor or call the police or some adult who can help you--and maybe help your parent. REMEMBER: You are not alone. There are kids like you and lots of troubled families who have gotten help. There are people who have felt just as helpless, hopeless, or confused as you may be feeling right now, but they learned that they can help each other get well. You are not the cause of anyone's drinking. Nothing you do or anyone else does can fix it. Only the alcoholic can fix it by not drinking. You cannot force your family to get help. You can get help. You can change your life. Talk about it with someone you trust. P.S. Maybe you don't have a parent with a drinking problem, but you have a friend who needs help. Some of the ways you might help are: Try to be understanding and to listen carefully. Talking about things with friends can be a big help! Encourage your friend to talk to a trusted adult. Toll free numbers you can call for help . . . Boystown National Hotline 1-800-448-3000 Childhelp USA – 1-800-422-4453 Children of Alcoholics Foundation Helpline – 1-800-359-2623 Al-Anon/Alateen General Line 1-800-356-9996 Source: Teenage Health and Interactive Network - About.com < Back to Drugs & Alcohol Main Page