When your mom drinks too much
Imagine coming home from school and finding your mom passed out, surrounded by empty bottles. For Louise Farragher, now 24, that was the everyday reality of her childhood in County Mayo, Ireland. She grew up detoxing her mother and looking after her younger siblings.
Today, Louise’s mother is sober and the two have founded an organization that helps other families cope with addiction. Because of the challenges experiences she’s been through, Louise is able to reach out to the children of alcoholic parents and help them through the huge responsibility that’s dropped on their shoulders.
Listen to the report by Alan Meeney in County Mayo, Ireland:
Louise is one of an estimated 100,000 children in Ireland that are affected by their parents’ alcohol addition (Photo: Louise Farragher)
Since shame is often associated with alcoholism, many people don’t seek help in the first place (Photo: Fotolia/lassedesignen)
Related Content
