Alcohol Awareness Week 2020
Alcohol Awareness week presents an opportunity to raise awareness of the issue of alcohol abuse and how it affects children in care.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Alcohol Change UK found that stress, anxiety and other mental health reasons drove over half of UK drinkers to turn to alcohol.
They found:
Over half of drinkers (53%) said they have drunk alcohol for a mental health reason
1 in 3 drinkers (29%) have been drinking at increasing or high risk levels
Drinking worsened mental wellbeing for 4 in 10 drinkers (44%)
Interestingly, existing inequalities that have already been shown to be amplified over the course of the pandemic are also reflected in this survey, with young people and people from BAME backgrounds being adversely/disproportionately affected.
This year’s Alcohol Awareness Week (16th- 22 November) aims to raise awareness of the link between alcohol and mental health, to speak out about the stigma surrounding both issues, and to encourage anyone who is struggling to seek the support they need and deserve.
Whilst the coronavirus pandemic is thought to have adversely impacted mental health and wellbeing of adults, there are encouraging signs that young people’s mental health has bounced back, particularly in light of schools returning. A recent survey by the University of Oxford showed that
According to a recent ‘State of the Nation’ report published by the Department for Education, “Overall and on average, and in the context of pre-pandemic reducing trends, children and young people have had quite stable personal wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic. Levels of happiness are similar to previous years.”
Alcohol Awareness week is also a chance for educational settings and providers to promote awareness about alcohol; the Oak National Academy has published a KS3 biology lesson looking at the science of alcohol to make pupils aware of alcohol and its effects.
It also presents an opportunity to highlight and explore the issues surrounding alcohol abuse and explore the effects on younger people and on society.
How does alcohol abuse affect young people?
As the NSPCC highlights, children living with parents with alcohol or drug problems can be more at risk of harm and neglect. These issues can make it difficult for parents and carers to look after their children.
According to the latest figures, neglect or abuse is the most common reason children end up in care. If parents are struggling with alcohol abuse and are unable to care for themselves, their children end up being placed into foster care.
Source: Department for Education 2020
Substance abuse can lead to children ending up in care, but also leaves long lasting effects if the mother consumes alcohol during pregnancy and can lead to Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
In 2016, The Guardian highlighted that a lack of support and knowledge about FASD leaves foster carers, adopters and social workers in the dark.
It is important that we continue to raise awareness of alcohol abuse and the issues around it such as FASD.
Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) refers to the adverse effects of alcohol during pregnancy, which disrupts development in the womb. Alcohol can damage cells in the brain, spinal cord and other parts of the body.
The Fostering Network drew attention to the Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) epidemic in their two part blog series earlier this year.
They bring to light some illuminating facts:
Care-experienced children are thought to have a much higher prevalence of FASD than their peers.
FASD is believed to affect more people than autism. It’s been called a “hidden epidemic.”
One study led by Dr Ges Gregory in Peterborough found a history of prenatal exposure in 55 out of 160 health assessments for looked after children (34%) and in 34 out of 45 medicals for adoption.