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Dear
Readers,
An estimated one in four U.S. children is
exposed to a family alcohol problem, and countless
others are affected by familial drug abuse. These
young people are at increased risk of a range
of problems, including physical illness, emotional
disturbances, behavior problems, lower educational
performance, and susceptibility to alcoholism
or other addiction later in life.
In
January, The National Association for Children
of Alcoholics (NACoA) announced that it had chosen
this week as "Children of Alcoholics Week
2002." The theme of this public awareness
campaign, "No Child Unsupported," asks
us all to share responsibility for the well-being
of those children, "who struggle with alcohol
or drug addiction in their families."
Some
years ago, I responded to the following from a
young wife of an active alcoholic: "Our children
are 8 and 10. They say that their dad's drinking
doesn't bother them. How can I find out if they
are really hurting?"
In
my reply, I provided a copy of a children of alcoholic's
screening test (CAST) which was designed to measure
children's feelings, perceptions and experiences
related to their parent's drinking/using behavior.
Since being published nearly a decade ago, it
has been used to identify and measure the level
of trauma found in latency-age, adolescent and
adult children of an addicted parent. For children
under 8, each item usually needs to be read and
sometimes translated. All "yes" answers
are tabulated to yield a total score. ("drugging"
can be substituted for "drinking") :
1) Have you ever thought your parent has a drinking
problem?..
2) Have you ever lost sleep because of it?..
3) Have you ever asked a parent to stop drinking?..
4) Did you ever feel alone, scared, or nervous
because a parent is unable to stop?..
5) Do you ever argue or fight with a parent while
he/she is drinking?..
6) Have you ever threatened to run away because
of the drinking?..
7) Has a parent ever yelled or hit you or other
family members while drinking?..
8)Have you heard your parents fight when one of
them was drunk?..
9) Have you ever protected another family member
from a drunk parent?..
10) Have you ever felt like hiding or emptying
a parent's bottle of liquor/stash?..
11) Do many of your thoughts revolve around the
drinking parent or problems that arise because
of it?..
12) Do you ever wish that a parent would stop
drinking?..
13) Do you ever feel responsible or guilty about
a parent's drinking?..
14) Were you ever afraid that your parents might
divorce because of problems caused by the drinking?..
15) Have you ever been caught in the middle of
a fight or argument between the problem drinker
and the other parent?..
16) Did you ever feel you caused a parent to drink?..
17) Have you ever felt that the drinker doesn't
love you?..
18) Do you ever resent a parent's drinking?..
19) Have you ever worried about a parents health
because of it?..
20) Have you ever been blamed for a parent's drinking?..
21) Did you ever think your father or mother was
an alcoholic?..
22) Did you ever wish your home could be like
those of your friends whose parents don't have
the problem?..
23) Did a parent ever make promises that weren't
kept because of drinking?..
24) Did you ever wish you could talk to someone
who would understand and help solve your family
alcohol problems?..
25) Did you ever fight a sibling about a parent's
drinking?..
26) Did you ever stay away from home to avoid
the either parent?..
27) Have you ever felt sick, cried, or had a "knot"
in your stomach worrying about a parent's drinking?..
28) Do you ever take over chores or duties once
done by the parent before drinking became a problem?
Even
without scoring, talking about the questions with
a child can be both diagnostic and therapeutic.
If the score is high, the family is in deep trouble
and in need of professional help. As a centerpiece
of its campaign, NACoA is helping to publicize
the availability of a series of posters and pamphlets
developed to encourage young people to talk with
supportive adults. These materials are available
at no cost by calling: (1-800-729-6686).
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