Shock rise in children contacting ChildLine about parents’ drinking and drug taking

ChildLine carried out 5,323 counselling sessions with children worried about their parents’ abuse of drink or drugs (posed by model)

The number of children counselled by ChildLine because their parents were drinking too much or taking drugs more than doubled last year – averaging fifteen counselling sessions a day to the free, 24 hour helpline.

ChildLine carried out 5,323 counselling sessions with children worried about their parents’ abuse of drink or drugs – up from 2,509 the previous year. Most of the children counselled were 12 to 15 years old, although one in ten were of primary school age.

Last year (2012/13) ChildLine counsellors at the Manchester base carried out 701 counselling sessions with children and young people via telephone, online chat and email who were concerned about parental drug and alcohol abuse. 

The figures contrast with a long-term fall in violent crime in England and Wales, thought to be partially influenced by the rising cost of alcohol. Research is needed to explain the sudden increase but it would appear that more children are witnessing drunken behaviour and experiencing violence at home, or they are more aware that help is available.

Many children told ChildLine that they lived in fear of their parents’ anger, with one in six saying they’d been physically hurt by their mum or dad when they were under the influence. Some reported living in dirty and even dangerous surroundings, lacking essentials because money was frittered on alcohol or drugs.

Children spoke of feeing helpless and didn’t know where to go for support. 19% said the stress of their situation had led to them feeling depressed, self-harming, or having suicidal thoughts.

One young person who contacted a counsellor at the ChildLine base in Manchester said: “Mum is a drug addict and dad's an alcoholic. They argue all the time and it gets really bad sometimes. Dad can be violent towards me when he’s drunk but I can't move out because I'm still studying. I'm trying to stay strong but I feel like the drugs and alcohol are more important to them than me. I can't talk to the police because I'm scared of what dad would do to me if he found out. I just need someone to talk to.”

Kemi Olubodun, ChildLine Service Manager in Manchester, said: “These shocking ChildLine statistics are sadly only one small piece of the jigsaw. Official estimates are that around 250,000 children in the UK have parents with drug problems, and three in ten children live with at least one binge-drinking parent. 

“It’s heart-breaking that so many young people struggle alone because they do not know where to go for help or are unsure of what might happen if they speak to someone. They may fear being taken away from their families by social services and put into care and believe that they are protecting their family by keeping quiet.

“Some children tell us their parents are under stress and it may be that they are using drink and drugs to blot out worries about jobs, money or housing issues. But whatever the reasons behind the rise, it’s vital that anyone who knows a parent with drink or drug problems takes action to get that family help so that their children are protected.”
Children can seek help by contacting ChildLine on 0800 1111 or on childline.org.uk. Adults with concerns about a child should call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.