A resource for children, teens and caring adults
The Seven Cs for Children Affected by Addiction
When alcohol or drug use becomes part of family life, a child may start searching for a way to make sense of it. They may wonder whether they caused the problem, whether behaving differently could stop it, or whether caring more could somehow fix it. The Seven Cs answer those questions in language a child can remember.
Created by Jerry Moe, MA, the Seven Cs give children and teens a clear way to understand where their responsibility ends. The words also give caring adults a place to begin when a child is carrying questions, fear or blame that belong in an honest conversation.
The first three Cs put responsibility where it belongs
Children affected by a parent or caregiver’s substance use can take on responsibility that never belonged to them. The first three Cs say plainly that a child did not create the addiction and cannot manage another person out of it.
A child does not need every detail about addiction to understand these limits. Their words, moods, schoolwork and behavior did not create an adult’s substance use. Monitoring the adult, staying quiet or trying to be perfect will not place the addiction under the child’s control.
Support for the child can begin now, regardless of whether the adult has entered treatment or recovery. A child deserves truthful, age-appropriate reassurance while the family situation is still uncertain.
The other four Cs bring the child back to their own life
The remaining four Cs give the child something useful to do with the feelings that remain. They focus on care, communication, choices and the child’s ability to see value in themselves.
A caring adult can introduce the Seven Cs slowly. Read them together and pause when one line feels connected to what the child is experiencing. The child may want to talk, listen or come back to the conversation later. Their response does not need to follow a lesson plan.
Keep the language simple and resist asking the child to explain the adult’s behavior. The useful question is what the child needs to feel supported today. The Seven Cs can remain nearby as a reminder when self-blame or worry returns.
Download the Seven Cs in the language your family uses
A child should be able to receive this message in language that feels familiar. NACoA currently offers the Seven Cs in English, 18 translated languages and a version for tribal communities. Choose the version that fits the child, family or community you support.
Arabic
Dakota
French
German
Greek
Haitian Kreyòl
Hebrew
Hmong
Icelandic
Italian
Korean
Mandarin
Polish
Russian
Spanish
Tagalog
Urdu
Vietnamese
Tribal communities
If the language your community needs is not listed, send the language and a reviewed translation to nacoa@nacoa.org so NACoA can consider adding it.
Download the version you need and keep it where the child can find it again. The Seven Cs give a child words to return to when questions or self-blame come back.
More support for the conversation
The Seven Cs may open questions that need more time and support. Caring adults can use NACoA’s guidance for helping a child affected by family addiction, and teens can find information written directly for them in Just 4 Teens.
