Children affected by parental alcohol problems (ChAPAPs) (original) (raw)

The hidden harm: alcohol’s impact on children and families

2015

The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation working to stop the harm caused by alcohol. Alcohol harm in Australia is significant. More than 5,500 lives are lost every year and more than 157,000 people are hospitalised-making alcohol one of our nation's greatest preventative health challenges. For over a decade, FARE has been working with communities, governments, health professionals and police across the country to stop alcohol harms by supporting world-leading research, raising public awareness and advocating for changes to alcohol policy. In that time FARE has helped more than 750 communities and organisations, and backed over 1,400 projects around Australia. FARE is guided by the World Health Organization's 2010 Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol for stopping alcohol harms through population-based strategies, problem directed policies, and direct interventions. If you would like to contribute to FARE's important work, call us on (02) 6122 8600, email

Children Affected by Parental Alcohol Problems – Some Basic Considerations

2015

Numerous studies from the last decades describe the situation of children affected by parental alcohol problems in detail. Research underlined the potential negative consequences of parental alcohol misuse or alcoholism: children from alcoholics are characterized by a 4–6 fold elevated risk to develop an addiction disease as well and an increased risk for other negative outcomes, like affective disorders, anxiety disorders, behavior problems, physical problems, etc.

European Parliament Working Group on the Quality of Childhood in the EU Preventing Alcohol Use Disorders Among Children and Adolescents in the EU

2013

Summary The European Union is the region with the highest alcohol consumption in the world accompanied by high levels of alcohol use disorders among adolescents and adults. Alcohol policies and legal drinking ages vary and have been based on the history, culture, social conditions, economic interests and taxation policies of each country. However this is increasingly at odds with a new generation of medical research. This paper will present empirical evidence clearly pointing to basic changes that need to be made in alcohol policy across the EU in order to prevent further alcohol use disorders and the resultant high levels of morbidity and mortality.

Underage drinking in the UK: Changing trends, impact and interventions. A rapid evidence synthesis

The UK is a high prevalence country for underage alcohol use. We conducted an evidence synthesis to examine (1) the changing trends in underage drinking in the UK compared to Europe and the USA, (2) the impact of underage drinking in terms of hospital admissions, (3) the association between underage drinking and violent youth offending, and (4) the evidence base for the effectiveness of alcohol harm reduction interventions aimed at children and adolescents under the age of 18 years. The following databases were searched from November 2002 until November 2012: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, The Evidence for Policy and Practice Information, DARE, Medline, The Campbell Collaboration, CINAHL, Criminal Justice Abstracts, Psych INFO and Social Care Online. Our findings revealed changes in the way children drink in the UK and how much they drink. Alcohol related harms are increasing in the UK despite overall population levels of consumption reducing in this age group. Girls aged 15-16 years report binge drinking and drunkenness more than boys. Girls are also more likely than boys to be admitted to hospital for alcohol related harm. The evidence suggests a strong association between heavy episodic binge drinking and violent youth offending. Only 7 out of 45 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) identified for this review included children and adolescents under the age of 18 years. Most were delivered in the emergency department (ED) and involved a brief intervention. All were characterised by a wide age range of participants, heterogeneous samples and high rates of refusal and attrition. The authors conclude that whilst the ED might be the best place to identify children and adolescents at risk of harm related to alcohol use it might not be the best place to deliver an intervention. Issues related to a lack of engagement with alcohol harm reduction interventions have been previously overlooked and warrant further investigation.

Alcohol Drinking among Primary School Children APJCP Volume 19 Issue S1 Pages 51 55

Background: Underage alcohol use is a pervasive problem with serious health, social and safety consequences. This study was undertaken to assess alcohol use by primary school children in Trinidad and Tobago, and to identify associated risk factors. Methods: We analysed data collected from 40 primary schools in Trinidad and Tobago by the National Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Programme (NADAPP). The sample comprised of children aged 8 -15 years old, in standards 3, 4 and 5. Result: Out of the 2052 children, 648 (31.6%) have consumed alcohol in their lifetime, and same proportion reported ever being drunk (31.6%). Male gender was significantly associated with lifetime alcohol use (AOR =1.60, 95% CI= 1.25 -2.05). Children not living with their father (AOR= 2.45, 95% CI=1.86-3.24) and those whose fathers have either primary or secondary education (AOR = 1.88, 95%CI=1.07 -3.31; AOR= 1.58, 95%CI=1.12 -2.23 respectively) were at higher risk for lifetime alcohol consumption. However, age group 8 -11 years was significantly inversely associated with lifetime alcohol consumption (AOR= 0.67, 95% CI=0.48 -0.94). Conclusion: Being a male student, not living with father, and father attaining either primary or secondary education level were significantly associated with increased likelihood for lifetime alcohol use. However, children between 8 -11 years were less likely to consume alcohol.

Supporting parents to reduce the misuse of alcohol by young people

The majority of parents report that they believe they have an important role in shaping adolescents' values and behaviours in relation to drinking, but they also report that they need more support in this area. Education, welfare, health, youth and other professionals have an important role in providing services to young people and/or their families and have significant opportunities to provide information and support to families in relation to alcohol use. This article provides a framework for practitioners to use when assisting families to develop strategies to reduce young peoples' exposure to risky situations and subsequent alcohol-related harm.

Preventing alcohol use disorders among children andadolescents in the EU

2013

The European Union is the region with the highest alcohol consumption in the world accompanied by high levels of alcohol use disorders among adolescents and adults. Alcohol policies and legal drinking ages vary and have been based on the history, culture, social conditions, economic interests and taxation policies of each country. However this is increasingly at odds with a new generation of medical research. This paper will present empirical evidence clearly pointing to basic changes that need to be made in alcohol policy across the EU in order to prevent further alcohol use disorders and the resultant high levels of morbidity and mortality.