1,300 children in Fermanagh harmed by parents' drinking

Sarah Saunderson • Published 25 Feb 2011 09:00 0 Comments

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Unpredictable, chaotic and isolated -- hardly the childhood we would want for our children.

But that's the description by an NSPCC professional of the life visited on as many as an estimated 1,300 children in Fermanagh through their parents' drinking.

The literature of this campaign, highlighting the impact of parental alcohol and drug misuse, is self-consciously targeting the maternal audience. Its posters and leaflets, about the issue commonly known as Hidden Harm, feature a glass of white wine and a child's drawing of a family home floating precariously within it. It is about raising awareness among those whose drinking has not reached the dependent stage, but is at a harmful level when it is wine o'clock a lot of the time. But it is not only mothers' drinking that can do harm -- fathers' alcohol or drug abuse can have a devastating effect.

The Fermanagh campaign launch, last Thursday at the Killyhevlin Hotel, hit home the appalling impact hidden harm has on children, potentially exposing them to neglect and violence.

"We have created a society where it is not acceptable to be drunk in charge of a car but it seems to be acceptable to be drunk in charge of a child. Drunk does not mean dependent. I feel fervently about it. As a society we need to begin to do something about it," said Mr. Mannix Magee, Chairman of the Fermanagh Drugs and Alcohol Forum, who chaired the public awareness launch.

Mr. Brendan Bonner, Head of Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement for the Public Health Agency, commented: "We do not know the exact figure of hidden harm. It is not called hidden harm for no reason. But it is estimated that one in 11 children are actually suffering from hidden harm. There are 1.300 young people in this county who are experiencing hidden harm. That is how big the problem actually is. As for drug abuse, one in five children who go through our programmes have children."

40 per cent of the children on the Child Protection Register are there as a direct result of parental substance abuse. 70 per cent of children living in care settings are living away from home as a direct result of parental substance abuse. "It is huge," said Mr. Bonner.

"The child has to deal with all these problems and may have to live with the legacy of an inter-generational problem that has been passed on," he said.

The stigma felt by families with this problem is the "single biggest barrier" preventing young people coming forward to get help. All programmes helping these families are non-judgemental, he said.

And in a county where 39 per cent of households suffer from fuel poverty, in those families when a parent chooses to buy alcohol on a daily basis, it can mean the house will not be heated. "If you are living with hidden harm, there will be no coal," he said.

Margaret Gallagher, NSPCC local campaigns co-ordinator, explained: "Hidden harm, domestic violence and mental health. They are the toxic trio in terms of child homocide and risk for murder"

The partnership approach between support services is vital, she said. "Within the local community there are children experiencing impossible pressures as a result of a parent's alcohol or drug misuse. For those children and young people whose home life has become unpredictable, chaotic and isolated – and indeed their extended family and the wider community - knowledge of the support services that are available locally could prove invaluable," she said.

The hidden harm campaign is funded by the Public Health Agency and NSPCC, and is delivered in partnership with DIVERT (a Derry-based support orgainsation for young people) and the Fermanagh Alcohol and Drug Forum, a sub-committee of the Fermanagh District Council-run Community Safety Partnership.

So where can families get help?

For help for adults whose drinking is causing concern, the Irvinestown-based Solace project can be contacted on 6862 8737.

The Breakthru project, which is an alcohol and drug education prevention and early intervention service can be contacted on 028 8775 3228. Rory McDonald of the project explained: "We have been working in the Fermanagh area for two years. Our approach is a community development approach. We work within the communities in Fermanagh. We aim to complement the services that already exist." Among its projects are parent awareness courses educating about drug and alcohol issues and outreach work.

Youth treatment, counselling and support is available through the Daisy West programme. Bernie Carleton, Key Worker for Daisy West explained: "Daisy West offers services for young people aged 25 and under who may be are in circumstances that can put them at risk of misusing slcohol or drugs and it is causing concern in any area of their lives such as home, school or relationships or those affected by substance abuse of someone they live with or care about. We cover the whole of the Western Health and Social Care Trust area". The services they offer include brief intervention (support at times of crisis), counselling support, mentoring support, group work, therapeutic group work and family support. The contact number is 028 8224 1525.

The NSPCC Lifeline number is 0808 808 800 and is available 24/7.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 24 Feb 11

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