Parental Alcohol Misuse Causes Horrific Problems For Children, Study Finds | HuffPost Life

18% of kids were embarrassed at seeing their parent drunk.

Shaun Connolly, Press Association Political Correspondent— PA for HuffPost UK

Parental drinking is linked to more than one in three cases of the death or serious injury of a child through neglect or abuse in England, a new study shows.

The report, commissioned by a cross-party group of MPs and peers, found alcohol misuse was implicated in 37% of such cases between 2011 and 2014.

MP Liam Byrne said that parents who misuse alcohol can cause “horrific” problems for their children.

The study found that 15% of children had their bedtime routine disrupted due to their parents’ drinking, and that 18% were embarrassed at seeing their parent drunk.

Freedom of information trawls show that more than half of councils still do not have a strategy to help children of alcoholics, and that referrals to alcohol treatment services are falling in more than 50% of local authorities.

MP Liam Byrne wants to highlight the impact parental drinking can have on children Chris Ison/PA

It was also revealed that 92% of the 53 councils that provided information to the study are cutting their budgets for alcohol and drug treatment services.

Cuts differ in size from £9.6 million, or 58.1%, in Lancashire to £87,000, 1.1%, in Wolverhampton.

The study showed that the average drop in local authority funding was around £198,000.

The All-Party Group for Children of Alcoholics report called for better funding to help youngsters affected by parents who drink.

The plea came as the group marked International Children of Alcoholics Week.

Mr Byrne, who lost his father to alcoholism in 2015 and is chairman of the parliamentary group, said: “Millions of parents drink too much and their misuse of alcohol causes horrific problems for their children.

“Parental alcohol misuse scars kids for life and can lead many into a life of drinking too much themselves.

“Our campaign has now won a new commitment from Government for a national strategy to stop parental alcohol misuse.

“This new report shows just why the Government must act fast to put an effective plan in place.”

The study said that 61% of care applications in England involved misuse of alcohol and/or drugs.

Children living with alcohol-dependent parents report feeling socially isolated and are reluctant to seek help due to feelings of stigma, shame and guilt about not wanting to betray parents, according to the study.

A Department for Health and Social Care spokeswoman said: “We are acutely aware of the impact some parents drinking can have on their children — that’s why work is well underway on a new Children of Alcoholics Strategy, which will look at what further support we can provide to families to tackle alcohol harms.

“This comes in addition to our new higher duties to target cheap, high strength cider and the UK Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines, which help adults make informed decisions about their drinking.”

Before You Go

Signs Of Alcoholism

Abuse: Not Meeting Responsibilities(01 of20)

Abuse, the regular use of a substance that leads to serious psychological and/or physical disability, is shown by one or more of these symptoms during the same year:Repeated substance use to the point of not being able to meet responsibilities -- not performing well at work, being suspended from school, being repeatedly late or absent from required duties, or neglecting household tasks. (credit:Shutterstock)

Abuse: Involving Risk(02 of20)

Abuse, the regular use of a substance that leads to serious psychological and/or physical disability, is shown by one or more of these symptoms during the same year:Repeated substance use when there is risk involved, like operating equipment or driving a car while under the influence. (credit:Shutterstock)

Abuse: Difficulties With The Law(03 of20)

Abuse, the regular use of a substance that leads to serious psychological and/or physical disability, is shown by one or more of these symptoms during the same year:Repeated difficulties with the law related to substance use -- being arrested for physical aggression or drunk driving, for instance. (credit:Shutterstock)

Abuse: Personal Or Social Difficulties(04 of20)

Abuse, the regular use of a substance that leads to serious psychological and/or physical disability, is shown by one or more of these symptoms during the same year:Insisting on using the substance regardless of continued or repeated personal or social difficulties because of it, verbal or physical aggression with a loved one, or frequent arguments about the substance use. (credit:Shutterstock)

Dependence: Needing Great Amounts(05 of20)

Symptoms of alcohol dependence, a physical need to drink, are identified as three or more of the following within the same year:Needing greater amounts of alcohol to satisfy cravings. (credit:Shutterstock)

Dependence: An Inability To Reduce Use(06 of20)

Symptoms of alcohol dependence, a physical need to drink, are identified as three or more of the following within the same year:Using the substance longer than planned or more frequently and in greater amounts.An inability to reduce use, despite a sincere wish to do so. (credit:Shutterstock)

Dependence: Going Through Withdrawal(07 of20)

Symptoms of alcohol dependence, a physical need to drink, are identified as three or more of the following within the same year:Going through withdrawal when not using alcohol, with symptoms such as tremors, restlessness, and agitation. (credit:Shutterstock)

Dependence: Avoiding Withdrawal(08 of20)

Symptoms of alcohol dependence, a physical need to drink, are identified as three or more of the following within the same year:Taking a substance or a similar one to avoid the effects of withdrawal. (credit:Shutterstock)

Dependence: Spending Time On Alcohol(09 of20)

Symptoms of alcohol dependence, a physical need to drink, are identified as three or more of the following within the same year:Spending a significant amount of time trying to acquire the substance.Spending less time at work or on other activities because of substance use; a person may completely abandon previously enjoyable activities. (credit:Shutterstock)

Dependence: Drinking In The Face Of Difficulty(10 of20)

Symptoms of alcohol dependence, a physical need to drink, are identified as three or more of the following within the same year:Continuing to drink despite being aware that alcohol is causing psychological or physical difficulties. (credit:Shutterstock)

Addiction: Saying Inappropriate Things(11 of20)

Stephen Gilman, MD, an addiction specialist in New York City, helps determine the severity of alcohol addiction by asking the following questions:Does he/she frequently say inappropriate things? (credit:Shutterstock)

Addiction: Slurred Speech(12 of20)

Stephen Gilman, MD, an addiction specialist in New York City, helps determine the severity of alcohol addiction by asking the following questions:Does his/her speech slurred? (credit:Shutterstock)

Addiction: Missing Work(13 of20)

Stephen Gilman, MD, an addiction specialist in New York City, helps determine the severity of alcohol addiction by asking the following questions:Does he/she miss work? (credit:Shutterstock)

Addiction: Off Balance(14 of20)

Stephen Gilman, MD, an addiction specialist in New York City, helps determine the severity of alcohol addiction by asking the following questions:Is his/her balance off when they walk? (credit:Shutterstock)

Addiction: Trouble With The Law(15 of20)

Stephen Gilman, MD, an addiction specialist in New York City, helps determine the severity of alcohol addiction by asking the following questions:Has he/she gotten in trouble with the law, for example, with drinking and driving? (credit:Shutterstock)

Addiction: Health Problems(16 of20)

Stephen Gilman, MD, an addiction specialist in New York City, helps determine the severity of alcohol addiction by asking the following questions:Is he having health issues related to alcohol addiction, such as heartburn, liver problems, high blood pressure, or insomnia? (credit:Shutterstock)

Question To Ask: Should I Cut Down?(17 of20)

Take the CAGE questionnaire -- if the answer to two or more of the four CAGE questions is yes, it is likely you have a problem.C stands for cut-down: Do you ever feel that you should cut down on your drinking? (credit:Shutterstock)

Question To Ask: People Getting Annoyed?(18 of20)

Take the CAGE questionnaire -- if the answer to two or more of the four CAGE questions is yes, it is likely you have a problem.A stands for annoyed: Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? (credit:Shutterstock)

Question To Ask: Ever Felt Guilty?(19 of20)

Take the CAGE questionnaire -- if the answer to two or more of the four CAGE questions is yes, it is likely you have a problem.G stands for guilty: Have you ever felt guilty about your drinking? (credit:Shutterstock)

Question To Ask: Drinking To 'Recover'?(20 of20)

Take the CAGE questionnaire -- if the answer to two or more of the four CAGE questions is yes, it is likely you have a problem.E stands for eye-opener: Have you ever had to drink as soon as you wake up to steady your nerves or get over a hangover? (credit:Shutterstock)

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