1. Website for Children of Parents with Alcohol Problems Barbara Conijn & Heleen Riper Trimbos-institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction

2. overview of presentation Drankjewel.nl explaining ‘drankjewel’.nlexplaining ‘drankjewel’.nl advisory committeeadvisory committee target grouptarget group contentcontent the web sitethe web site pilot implementationpilot implementation

3. Drankjewel.nl Prevention Programme Trimbos-institutePrevention Programme Trimbos-institute –Heleen Riper –Barbara Conijn –financed by the Ministry of Health, Welfare & Sports

4. Advisory Commission Netherlands Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (NIGZ) Brijder Foundation, regional Dutch institute for addiction de Grift, regional Dutch institute for addiction TACTUS, regional Dutch institute for addiction Parnassia, regional Dutch institute for addiction National Support Centre for Prevention (T-i) Netherlands Institute for Care and Welfare (NIZW)

5. Target group Drankjewel.nl Children of parents with alcohol problems

6. Characteristics of families with a problem drinking parent alcohol problems are at the core of family lifealcohol problems are at the core of family life conducting tasks for ‘missing’ parentconducting tasks for ‘missing’ parent masking the problems & protecting the drinking parentmasking the problems & protecting the drinking parent unpredictable social lifeunpredictable social life lack of proper physical carelack of proper physical care emotional neglectemotional neglect aggressionaggression sexual harassmentsexual harassment

7. Youth Problems severe psychological complaints:severe psychological complaints: –depression –eating disorders –behavioural disorders –delinquency increased risks for alcohol problems (starting during adolescence)increased risks for alcohol problems (starting during adolescence) sleeping disorders and bed wettingsleeping disorders and bed wetting decreased school performancedecreased school performance physical complaintsphysical complaints causes: genetic disposition, personal traits & environmentcauses: genetic disposition, personal traits & environment but: protective factorsbut: protective factors

8. Problems for adults when compared with adults from non-problem drinking families increased risk for problem drinkingincreased risk for problem drinking difficulties with relationships & intimacydifficulties with relationships & intimacy weak communication skillsweak communication skills low self-esteemlow self-esteem more often a partner with problem drinking behaviourmore often a partner with problem drinking behaviour

9. Target group 1 out of 12 adults in the Netherlands has (or had) a parent with an alcohol problem (Nemesis, 1997)1 out of 12 adults in the Netherlands has (or had) a parent with an alcohol problem (Nemesis, 1997)  approximately 300.000 children in 2 out of 3 cases: fatherin 2 out of 3 cases: father in 1 out of 3 cases: motherin 1 out of 3 cases: mother sometimes both parentssometimes both parents

10. Why Drankjewel.nl? limited availability of low threshold interventions for COAP’slimited availability of low threshold interventions for COAP’s the need for information, advice & anonymity for childrenthe need for information, advice & anonymity for children Internet is an adequate medium to offer low threshold interventionsInternet is an adequate medium to offer low threshold interventions Internet is able to access hidden target populationsInternet is able to access hidden target populations Internet access: 95% of adolescents & 70% of the general populationInternet access: 95% of adolescents & 70% of the general population

11. What does Drankjewel.nl offer? –information & advice –recognition –contact: forum, e-mail and chat service –design –language –content

12. youth adults

13. All about alcohol use Facts about COAP’s How are you doing? What to do? - Links - FAQ’s - Reading tips Stories of others

14. What to do? 1.You can’t save your parents 2.Talk about it 3. Seek information 4. Do things you like 5. Write down your feelings 6. Do you worry about your siblings?

15. Looking back

16. 1. Your childhood 2. What was it like back than? 3. A drinking mother of father 4. What do children need? 5. How do children react to alcohol problems at home?

17. Pilot Implementation May - October 2003May - October 2003 Interactive functionality'sInteractive functionality's –user forum (Tactus & NIGZ) –Question & Answer (NIGZ & de Grift) –chat with a professional (Jellinek) process evaluation, content management & maintenance (Trimbos-institute)process evaluation, content management & maintenance (Trimbos-institute)

18. User forum

19. Question & Answer (e-mail)

20. Thank you for your attention.