Research involving 1,000 children in Northern Ireland has found that one in five parents have alcohol problems
The research was carried out over 10 years from 2001, involving 1,000 children and 1,097 parents.
Families struggling with alcohol problems experienced more separations and divorces. Their children were found to spend more time outside the home and felt less attachment to school.
The research also highlights that children developed strategies to cope with their parents’ alcohol problems. The evidence suggests that schools and teachers should be more aware of these problems.
The research also found an apparent link between alcohol abuse and suicidal behavior. Families where alcohol problems are present often felt stigma when trying to get help and General Practitioners said time and a lack of coordination led to problems accessing services.