The week of Valentine’s Day in February is not only observed as the week of love but it’s also observed as the Children of Alcoholics Awareness Week as well. This week highlights the problems and needs of children who have parents that are alcoholics. And this week doesn’t discriminate between young children and the grown children of alcoholics. When a parent abuses alcohol, it’s often the children who have to suffer.

It’s also the children who are left with deep psychological scars that will haunt them for the rest of their lives until it’s properly treated. That’s why it’s important for everyone to observe this holiday week and bring attention to the children of alcoholics who often have to suffer in silence.

The History Of Children Of Alcoholics Awareness Week

This holiday was first created in the early 1990s in Great Britain before it was brought over to the U.S. It was created to bring attention to the children of alcoholics—a subject that had been first addressed by Alcoholics Anonymous during the 1950s. At the end of the 1970s, the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism focused on the children of alcoholics and in 1986, The Children of Alcoholics became a public institution.

Observing Children Of Alcoholics Awareness Week

For children of alcoholics, this is a week to seek support or to find additional information about recovery. This is also a week for people to show support to the children of alcoholics. Several organizations provide important resources for families affected by alcoholism and these organizations include Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, NACoA, Adult Children of Alcoholics, and SAMHSA.

The information they provide is invaluable and helpful for coping families. We also would like to suggest that people spread the word about this week so that more people will seek help if they need it. Spreading the word can be as simple as telling friends and family about this week, or using the hashtag #ChildrenOfAlcoholicsAwarenessWeek on social media.