COA Awareness Week 2025: Supporting children impacted by a parents’ substance misuse

Every February, COA Awareness Week highlights the experiences of Children of Addiction (COA), with the aim of raising awareness and understanding for children who’ve been impacted by a parent’s drinking or substance use.

Founded by the National Association for Children of Addiction (NACoA), and running from February 9-15, COA Week is dedicated to amplifying the voices of vulnerable kids and teens impacted by the disease of addiction in their families, promoting resources for wellbeing, and encouraging communities to foster environments in which they can thrive.

More details about online and in-person events taking place during the week – including the COA Awareness Week Speaker Series – can be found here. https://nacoa.org/coa-awareness-week/

What does COA mean?

The term Children of Addiction (COA) refers to people who grow or grew up in households where one or both parents struggle with alcohol or drug misuse.

According to figures published by NACoA, children of parents who abuse substances are four times more likely to be emotionally or physically neglected. They are also more likely to be involved with the juvenile justice system.

These figures demonstrate that, for these children, the impact of living with parental substance abuse can be far-reaching and profoundly challenging.

How can you tell if a child is being impacted by parental substance misuse?

Recognising the signs of a child affected by parental substance misuse is crucial for ensuring the child gets the support they need as soon as possible.

Here are a few signs that schools, families and communities can look out for:

• Anxiety, depression, or excessive worry
• Feelings of guilt or self-blame for their parent’s behavior
• Low self-esteem or fear of social judgement
• Difficulty concentrating in school or frequent unexplained absences
• Acting out, displaying aggression, or engaging in risky behavior
• Withdrawal from friends and activities
• Poor hygiene or signs of neglect
• Tiredness or fatigue, potentially due to disrupted sleep patterns at home

The role of drug and alcohol testing

Drug and alcohol tests can play a part in supporting families affected by alcohol or drug misuse, particularly for parents looking to demonstrate sobriety and accountability, providing additional reassurance for family members and strengthening recovery plans.

If you or someone you know could benefit from drug and/or alcohol testing services, AlphaBiolabs is here to help. We provide three options for home drug and alcohol testing, with FREE shipping for your test kit.

• Home Urine Drug Test Kit, pack of 3 ($24.95): this easy-to-use home drug test kit can detect drugs and their metabolites in a urine sample, with results in just 5 minutes.
• Home Hair Drug Test ($99): can detect drug use for up to (approximately) 12 months prior to sample collection, depending on the hair type being tested. Hair can be taken from the head, face, body, or collected from a hairbrush. Simply follow the instructions included in your test kit to collect your hair samples and return them to our laboratory for testing. Results are available in 7-10 business days.*
• Home Drug and Alcohol Nail Test (from $99): can detect drug use for up to (approx.) 12 months, with only fingernail clippings or toenail clippings required. Results are available in 7-10 business days.*

Please be aware that our home drug and alcohol test kits are for peace of mind only, and the results cannot be used in court or for legal purposes.

For more information on which test is best for you, call us on 727-325-2902 or email info@alphabiolabsusa.com.

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