More than one hundred children contact ChildLine each week with concerns about parental drinking or drug use. Annual statistics relating to the service show almost six thousand (5,700) children rang in with concerns in the year ending March 2010. The total calls received exceeded one hundred and fifty thousand.
The NSPCC described these incidents as a "ticking timebomb" in the children's lives. Sadly, but not unexpected, abuse was often linked to the alcohol and substance abuse.
Another area for concern was that where the child became the carer, not just for sibling, but for parents too. I see a great deal of this in my working day and it's on the increase. I regularly come across situations where the child cares for the parent and know of one where the child was shopping and cooking for her siblings (until they were taken into care).
Although the calls relating to drink and alcohol are only about four percent of the total calls, the danger that this highlights in both providing a safe place for children and for the modelling that is taling place leaves me more than a little concerned.
This is an area where we (society) should be becoming more active and is an opportunity for Christians to serve their communities and help shape the future of young people. A recent local report stated that over 60% of children under the age of eight had had alcoholic drinks within the previous forty-eight hours.
Drink and drugs are an issue that will never go away, after all, they've always been with us. But we can, and must, do something about the impact of them on the lives of our children - the society's future depends on it.
But what and how? Where do we begin?
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