COA Awareness Week 2026: Supporting children affected by parental alcohol misuse

Every February, COA Awareness Week highlights the often-hidden struggles faced by Children of Addiction (COAs) – children growing up in homes where one or both parents misuse alcohol or drugs.

Running from February 8-14, the campaign is led by the National Association for Children of Addiction (NACoA) and is dedicated to:

• Amplifying the voices of children impacted by addiction
• Raising awareness about the challenges they face
• Promoting resources that support their wellbeing and recovery

This year’s theme continues to encourage open conversations, community action, and meaningful support for young people living with the emotional and practical consequences of addiction in the home.

Learn more about this year’s events, including NACoA’s COA Awareness Week Speaker Series.

What does COA mean?

A Child of Addiction (COA) is someone who grows up in a household where alcohol or drug misuse is present. This includes children currently living in these environments, as well as adults still coming to terms with their childhood experiences.

According to NACoA, children of addicted parents are:

• Four times more likely to be emotionally or physically neglected
• More likely to face educational challenges and mental health struggles
• At higher risk of involvement with the juvenile justice system

The impact of parental addiction can be profound and long-lasting, affecting every part of a child’s development – emotionally, socially, and physically.

Learn more: Effects of substance abuse

How parental substance misuse affects children

Growing up in a home where drug and alcohol abuse is present can have a deep and lasting impact on a child’s wellbeing, including:

• Emotional insecurity: never knowing what version of a parent they’ll come home to
• Neglected needs: missing out on basic care, emotional support, or supervision
• Isolation: feeling unable to talk to friends or teachers about what’s really going on
• Fear or shame: keeping family secrets, even from a young age

These children may learn to be hyper-independent, constantly on alert, or overly responsible for the emotions and behaviours of others. Over time, this can take a toll on their mental and physical health.

Long-term effects

The impacts of parental substance misuse often extend into adolescence and adulthood, influencing:

• Confidence and self-worth
• Ability to trust others or form stable relationships
• Risk of developing anxiety, depression, or substance misuse
• Academic performance or future life opportunities

It’s important to understand that no two children experience these challenges the same way. Some may cope outwardly well but struggle internally. Others may display behaviours that reflect what’s happening at home, such as acting out, withdrawing, or falling behind at school.

Recognizing the signs of a child affected by substance misuse

The signs of a child struggling due to parental substance misuse can be subtle or they may be easy to miss if the child is trying to hide what’s happening at home. Adults in schools, communities and families should be alert to:

• Persistent anxiety or low mood
• Guilt, self-blame or hyper-responsibility
• Poor concentration or school performance
• Withdrawal from social activities or friends
• Aggression, risk-taking or disruptive behavior
• Signs of neglect or poor hygiene
• Tiredness from disrupted sleep

Recognizing these signs early and offering support can make a critical difference in a child’s life.

How drug and alcohol testing can help

Drug and alcohol tests can play an important part in supporting families affected by substance abuse, 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, email info@alphabiolabsusa.com or visit our Learning Center.

*From lab receipt of samples