A Suffolk 12-year-old gave a speech at the House of Commons giving her views on alcohol, after her father died following a battle with alcoholism a year and a half ago.
Amelie Peek, who lives in Framsden and attends Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham, told those attending the Stafford Ward Lecture at the House of Commons on Thursday (February 22) that more should be done to help the children of alcoholics.
Her father Daniel passed away on September 6, 2022, leaving behind his partner of 15 years, Lucy Norfolk, and her 13-year-old brother Isaac.
The event was organised by the Children of Alcoholics APPG (All-Party Parliamentary Group) and attended by members of the charity NACOA, The National Association for Children of Alcoholics, which runs a helpline for children affected by the issues.
Government funding towards the charity was cut in 2021, and there have since been renewed calls for the government to reinstate funding for the helpline.
Mother Lucy Norfolk said: “It was a very emotional evening. I am so proud of Amelie. She has been though a lot and is now using her experience to help others. She wrote a letter and was invited to read it and give it to MPs.
“She wants to make a difference and help children of alcoholic parents, having lost her father when she was 10 to liver failure caused by alcohol.
“We heard many sad stories at the event. One woman was telling her story saying that she lost her mum when she was nine, and she said her mum was the best mum in the world and that she just wanted to keep her, but she kept getting taken away from her by social services.
“She said she couldn’t understand at that young age why. The whole room was emotional.”
According to NHS data, 2,846 people were prescribed drugs for the treatment of alcohol dependence in 2020/2021 in Suffolk and North East Essex, a rate of 288 per 100,000 population, above the rate of 251 for England overall.
Ms Norfolk added that the family came across the NACOA charity two months before Daniel passed away, and they wish they had known about it sooner.
The mum-of-two said children often blame themselves for their parents’ addiction, and the consequences, which means the charity’s work is vital for those affected by alcohol dependency.
She added: “I wish we had known about this charity before. Daniel had cirrhosis of the liver and deteriorated, passing away in hospital three weeks later. We had to turn the life support machine off, which was horrendous.
“He donated three of his other organs, so he saved three people the day he died, which gave us some comfort.
“He was slowly deteriorating. It was like he was killing himself with alcohol and could only watch. There was nothing we could do.
“We know of another child who has been affected by this, and she has been taken away from her mum, who is an alcoholic, which means the family has been ripped apart, and this child blames herself.
“The helpline is here for people like this child.”
If you or anyone you know has been affected by these issues, the Nacoa charity offers a free, confidential telephone and e-mail helpline.
Call 0800 358 3456, email helpline@nacoa.org.uk, or for more information, visit: nacoa.org.uk/about-nacoa/helpline
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