Charity reports rise in number of adults seeking help over alcoholic parents

The number of adults seeking a charity’s help in dealing with an alcoholic parent has tripled over five years.

The National Association for the Children of Alcoholics (NACOA) last year received more than 28,000 calls or messages from over-18s needing assistance.

This compared with 6,400 in 2013, the charity told the BBC.

According to the NACOA, one in five children in the UK are affected by their parents’ drinking.

The Government says it is investing millions in support for children of alcoholics, while “targeted help” is being offered to people admitted to hospital who show signs of alcohol dependence in the country’s worst-affected areas.

Growing up with an alcoholic parent can be “incredibly damaging” for a young person and lead to lifelong harm, the Department of Health and Social Care said.

“We are investing £6 million to support children of dependent parents, and services including alcohol treatment and mental health services are available for people who are suffering the impact of parental drinking as adults,” a spokesman told the BBC.

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