Background: Alcohol dependency is a large problem in Swedish society that in the 2000s has grown larger. The problem affects the children living with alcohol dependent parents. Parents are important for child development. An insecure childhood affects the child's physical and mental health and life world. Nurses are important for detecting and offer these children and families help.
Purpose: To describe children's experiences of growing up with alcohol dependent parents
Method: A qualitative narrative literature based study on autobiographies written by authors who have grown up with alcohol dependent parents.
Results: Children of alcohol dependent parents feel that they have to take the adult role in the family. They feel different and alienated from other children and adults. Their living conditions are precarious and often marked by violence, even so they dare not tell anyone. The children suffer both physical and mental illness and they feel a lack of confirmation from the adult environment. They felt that health care didn’t see or help them; they closed their eyes to the child's situation.
Conclusion: Nurses need more knowledge and tools to understand and be able to help these children. Through knowledge nurses can notice the children in time and offer them help and support.