| For the past several months, the daily economic | | | | more violent outbursts. The sad result has been child |
| news has been grim. We hear about more job losses, | | | | abuse and neglect. Unfortunately, the weak economy |
| foreclosures, home sales down, food prices soar, the | | | | has also reduced the funding for shelters and |
| stock market goes up and down. These are | | | | self-help organizations. |
| extraordinarily difficult times for everyone, and in | | | | As we all know, eventually there will be more jobs |
| some way everyone is affected by the situation. | | | | and stocks will go up. We can all go eat lobster and |
| The never-ending stress taps into your energy and | | | | see a movie. The economy will bounce back and up! |
| saps your strength; it tests your faith and leaves you | | | | In the interim, we need to ask ourselves a question: |
| confused. Families without the added stressors of | | | | what about the children living in alcoholic homes during |
| alcohol or drugs will pull together; they will make | | | | these tough times? Will their self-esteem ever be |
| some sacrifices as they grumble and complain, but in | | | | restored? What are the permanent lasting affects on |
| the end these families will more than likely survive | | | | these future leaders? We all need to be aware of |
| the current economy. | | | | the far reaching affects of a "bad" economy. Recent |
| What about the alcoholic? More importantly, what | | | | research indicated that children of alcoholics not only |
| about the children living with an alcoholic? Research | | | | risk becoming an alcoholic but are more likely to |
| has confirmed that alcoholics lack coping skills. When | | | | abuse drugs. |
| faced with problems, the alcoholic will turn to the | | | | We must pay attention to friends and family |
| bottle. Most of us have seen the destructive | | | | members that may need some extra help, and |
| dysfunction that results from alcohol or drug abuse. | | | | possibly intervention, during this tough time. Teachers, |
| What happens when the alcoholic faces a job loss or | | | | church leaders and adults that come in contact with |
| pay cut, or loses the important health insurance? | | | | children, stay watchful and pay attention to children |
| These situations exceed the "normal" stress of life | | | | that may be living in an alcoholic home. The turmoil in |
| and will most likely find the alcoholic turning to the | | | | an alcoholic home can create guilt, shame and |
| bottle more often and in larger quantities. | | | | confusion for the children. These children try |
| The National Runaway Switchboard has reported that | | | | desperately to keep this ugly family secret, yet more |
| there has been an alarming increase in calls over the | | | | than anything they need a trusted adult that will listen |
| past year. The callers have been increasingly younger. | | | | to them. Encouragement and support will begin their |
| These victims have reported abuse and neglect with | | | | journey on the road to recovery. |
| alcohol a common denominator in many cases. With | | | | We are all in this together, and we need to help each |
| the increased stress from the economy, there has | | | | other. If we turn our backs on these children in need, |
| been an increase in alcohol and drug abuse. With | | | | the economy will recover but a huge segment of our |
| increased alcohol and drug abuse, we have seen | | | | society will not. |