Voices of the Unheard: Healing Young Lives Affected by Addiction – 462

Voices of the Unheard: Healing Young Lives Affected by Addiction – 462

Curious about how others manage recovery when children are caught in the middle of addiction? This conversation centres on the kids who are usually in the background, as Spencer talks with Peggy Mcgillicuddy, director of children's programmes for the National Association for Children of Addiction (NACoA). Peggy shares how her own childhood with an alcoholic mother, and a painfully unhelpful "family session" where three strangers simply announced, "your mom is an alcoholic", shut her down for years.

Later, working in a children's programme at a treatment centre, she watched a room of silent 7–12 year olds open up after one boy said, "In my family, it's my dad who drinks too much... and I feel sad when that happens." Suddenly, every hand shot up.

NACoA's mission is simple and huge: "to eliminate the adverse impact of alcohol and drug use on children and families." Peggy explains how they train professionals, build children's programmes and create practical tools for parents, grandparents, teachers, foster carers and faith leaders.

A key focus is younger children, who, as she puts it, "are the first to be impacted and the very last to be helped." You'll hear about activity-based group work, why adults must "enter the child's world" (often starting with play, not heavy talks), and how the "seven Cs" help kids separate themselves from the disease: they "didn't cause it" and "can't control it", but they *can* communicate feelings, make healthy choices and look after themselves.

Powerful stories bring it all to life, like the 10-year-old who told his dad, "You stay here as long as it takes to get all of those rocks out of your bag" when his father finally agreed to extend treatment. If you've ever wondered how to support a child living with addiction in the family, this conversation might give you language, hope, and a nudge to become that one safe adult a child can turn to.