The National Association of Children of Alcoholics says one in five children in the UK are affected by a parent's drinking
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A London filmmaker has said creating a fiction piece based on end-of-life alcoholism has helped her “find peace” with the fact that her father was an alcoholic.
The article discusses themes that some readers might find upsetting.
Kathryn Georghiou made the 15-minute film Changing Tides in the hope that other children of alcoholics will feel seen:
“A lot of people who are children of alcoholics or addicts of any description go down an addictive root because they feel silent,” she told City News.
“Whereas doing any form of art, you can see yourself in it, and that’s such a beautiful power. It means that if you can’t talk, you don’t have to talk, you can just go ‘I’m not alone’.”
Kathryn said through researching alcoholism, studying characters and directing the film, she has come to understand the man her dad was:
“I’m really at peace with it with Dad now, I understand him as a person for the first time ever”.
Kathryn grew up in Blackpool, moved to London to go to drama school and has stayed here since. An actor by trade, this is the first film she has directed.
She is calling on politicians to provide more support for the children of alcoholics, and improve mental health services to address the “root cause”.
The film is not currently available publicly whilst it is entered into festivals.
How many children of alcoholics are there?
According to the National Association of Children of Alcoholics (Nacoa), one in five children in the UK is affected by a parent’s drinking. Nacoa estimates that a quarter of these adults (705,000) are alcohol dependent.
In London alone, 837 people died from conditions wholly caused by alcohol in 2022. It is a statistic which has been rising since 2017.
Figures from 2021-22 show 43,750 hospital admissions for these conditions in a year.
What impact does alcoholism have on children?
John Taylor, a qualified counsellor working for Turning Point UK, an organisation supporting families of alcoholics in central London, grew up with a mother who was an alcoholic.
He said every child with an alcoholic parent will be “living with the trauma… that their parents could die if they stop drinking”.
Kathryn said that during her early teenage years, she became so scared of her dad when he drank, that she would wait more than two hours after school until her sister had finished work, so she did not arrive back home on her own.
She said the situation led her to self-harm.
Kathryn left home at 16, and rented a house with a friend for a few years before moving to London for drama school: “I was desperate to get out of the area… I was running away really”.
She said her experiences have made her “hyper-vigilant” as an adult, always on edge. She always sits facing the room, rather than with her back to it – watching out for potential dangers.
Kathryn chose not to portray a father and daughter in the film, instead showing a man’s relationship with domestic carers, as he experiences end of life alcoholism. CREDIT: KATHALYN GEORGHIO
She said there were “too many layers” to the father-daughter relationship, to explore it in a short film. But, she says the rollercoaster of emotions experienced by children when their parents are going through end-of-life alcoholism, is reflected through the domestic carers in the film.
City News has also spoken to two other adults who, as children, had alcoholic fathers who are still alive – and still drinking – today.
Both said alcoholism had impacted their relationships with their dads. One’s father has moved to America, and she has decided to keep him out of her life: “I don’t want to be around someone who’s killing themselves”.
She said her father’s alcoholism led to her developing “destructive coping mechanisms involving alcohol” in later years, though she does not drink anymore.
A man we spoke to who had an alcoholic father said he is happy to have a drink, though he still has moments when buying drinks which make him think “I look like an alcoholic”.
He told us his dad’s drinking led to him developing anxiety as a child.
What do people think should be done?
Kathryn said more resources are needed to support children of alcoholics, a sentiment echoed by the other children of alcoholics we have spoken to.
John Turner, from Turning Point UK, said it is important to reach children early because otherwise, they can think their parent’s alcoholism is their fault.
John’s made a documentary which he hopes to be able to show to children in schools, so they realise they’re not alone.
Nacoa runs a helpline that children of alcoholics can ring to get advice and support.
In 2017, the government announced £6m for local, and national services supporting the families of alcoholics from which Nacoa benefitted. This funding was stopped in 2021.
Piers Henriques, director of communications at Nacoa recently wrote “we can’t keep fighting this alone forever.”
Kathryn said the six sessions of therapy she was allowed at school were not enough: “You’ve basically torn me apart, I’ve finally trusted someone to say why I’m cutting myself, why I’m doing these things, and now you’re going. Now what?”
She said places which did help were drama groups, swimming and especially youth clubs where children could speak freely, and staff were trained to spot issues. She says the importance of these groups cannot be understated.
Asked if she wants to see politicians talking about support for children of alcoholics ahead of elections, Kathryn said we need a solution beyond party politics: “We need to have a really robust mental health service … nobody drinks because they’re happy … we need to address the root cause.”
The government declined City News’ request to comment.
The following organisations may be able to provide support if you’ve been affected by addiction:
Drinkline is a confidential helpline for those worried about their own or someone else’s drinking. They can put you in touch with your local alcohol advice centre for help and support. Phone: 0300 123 1110
Alcoholics Anonymous provides opportunities to share experience, strength and hope to recover from alcoholism. Phone: 0800 9177 650
The following organisations may be able to provide support if you or someone you know has considered harming themselves:
ChildLine is a free, 24-hour confidential helpline for children and young people who need to talk. Phone: 0800 1111
Mind provides advice and support on a range of topics including types of mental health problems, self-harm, legislation and details of local help and support in England and Wales. Webchat available here. Phone: 0300 123 3393 (weekdays 9am – 6pm)
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HeadlineLondon filmmaker says project helped her ‘find peace’ with alcoholic father
Short HeadlineProject helped filmmaker 'find peace' with alcoholic dad
StandfirstKathryn Georghiou says more support is needed for children of alcoholics.
A London filmmaker has said creating a fiction piece based on end-of-life alcoholism has helped her “find peace” with the fact that her father was an alcoholic.
The article discusses themes that some readers might find upsetting.
Kathryn Georghiou made the 15-minute film Changing Tides in the hope that other children of alcoholics will feel seen:
“A lot of people who are children of alcoholics or addicts of any description go down an addictive root because they feel silent,” she told City News.
“Whereas doing any form of art, you can see yourself in it, and that’s such a beautiful power. It means that if you can’t talk, you don’t have to talk, you can just go ‘I’m not alone’.”
Kathryn said through researching alcoholism, studying characters and directing the film, she has come to understand the man her dad was:
“I’m really at peace with it with Dad now, I understand him as a person for the first time ever”.
Kathryn grew up in Blackpool, moved to London to go to drama school and has stayed here since. An actor by trade, this is the first film she has directed.
She is calling on politicians to provide more support for the children of alcoholics, and improve mental health services to address the “root cause”.
The film is not currently available publicly whilst it is entered into festivals.
How many children of alcoholics are there?
According to the National Association of Children of Alcoholics (Nacoa), one in five children in the UK is affected by a parent’s drinking. Nacoa estimates that a quarter of these adults (705,000) are alcohol dependent.
In London alone, 837 people died from conditions wholly caused by alcohol in 2022. It is a statistic which has been rising since 2017.
Figures from 2021-22 show 43,750 hospital admissions for these conditions in a year.
What impact does alcoholism have on children?
John Taylor, a qualified counsellor working for Turning Point UK, an organisation supporting families of alcoholics in central London, grew up with a mother who was an alcoholic.
He said every child with an alcoholic parent will be “living with the trauma… that their parents could die if they stop drinking”.
Kathryn said that during her early teenage years, she became so scared of her dad when he drank, that she would wait more than two hours after school until her sister had finished work, so she did not arrive back home on her own.
She said the situation led her to self-harm.
Kathryn left home at 16, and rented a house with a friend for a few years before moving to London for drama school: “I was desperate to get out of the area… I was running away really”.
She said her experiences have made her “hyper-vigilant” as an adult, always on edge. She always sits facing the room, rather than with her back to it – watching out for potential dangers.
Kathryn chose not to portray a father and daughter in the film, instead showing a man’s relationship with domestic carers, as he experiences end of life alcoholism. CREDIT: KATHALYN GEORGHIO
She said there were “too many layers” to the father-daughter relationship, to explore it in a short film. But, she says the rollercoaster of emotions experienced by children when their parents are going through end-of-life alcoholism, is reflected through the domestic carers in the film.
City News has also spoken to two other adults who, as children, had alcoholic fathers who are still alive – and still drinking – today.
Both said alcoholism had impacted their relationships with their dads. One’s father has moved to America, and she has decided to keep him out of her life: “I don’t want to be around someone who’s killing themselves”.
She said her father’s alcoholism led to her developing “destructive coping mechanisms involving alcohol” in later years, though she does not drink anymore.
A man we spoke to who had an alcoholic father said he is happy to have a drink, though he still has moments when buying drinks which make him think “I look like an alcoholic”.
He told us his dad’s drinking led to him developing anxiety as a child.
What do people think should be done?
Kathryn said more resources are needed to support children of alcoholics, a sentiment echoed by the other children of alcoholics we have spoken to.
John Turner, from Turning Point UK, said it is important to reach children early because otherwise, they can think their parent’s alcoholism is their fault.
John’s made a documentary which he hopes to be able to show to children in schools, so they realise they’re not alone.
Nacoa runs a helpline that children of alcoholics can ring to get advice and support.
In 2017, the government announced £6m for local, and national services supporting the families of alcoholics from which Nacoa benefitted. This funding was stopped in 2021.
Piers Henriques, director of communications at Nacoa recently wrote “we can’t keep fighting this alone forever.”
Kathryn said the six sessions of therapy she was allowed at school were not enough: “You’ve basically torn me apart, I’ve finally trusted someone to say why I’m cutting myself, why I’m doing these things, and now you’re going. Now what?”
She said places which did help were drama groups, swimming and especially youth clubs where children could speak freely, and staff were trained to spot issues. She says the importance of these groups cannot be understated.
Asked if she wants to see politicians talking about support for children of alcoholics ahead of elections, Kathryn said we need a solution beyond party politics: “We need to have a really robust mental health service … nobody drinks because they’re happy … we need to address the root cause.”
The government declined City News’ request to comment.
The following organisations may be able to provide support if you’ve been affected by addiction:
Drinkline is a confidential helpline for those worried about their own or someone else’s drinking. They can put you in touch with your local alcohol advice centre for help and support. Phone: 0300 123 1110
Alcoholics Anonymous provides opportunities to share experience, strength and hope to recover from alcoholism. Phone: 0800 9177 650
The following organisations may be able to provide support if you or someone you know has considered harming themselves:
ChildLine is a free, 24-hour confidential helpline for children and young people who need to talk. Phone: 0800 1111
Mind provides advice and support on a range of topics including types of mental health problems, self-harm, legislation and details of local help and support in England and Wales. Webchat available here. Phone: 0300 123 3393 (weekdays 9am – 6pm)
