Children of Alcoholics Week falls on February 14–20, 2027. It lands on the week of Valentine’s Day, a time to remember kids growing up with a parent’s drinking or drug use.
The Week of Valentine’s Day
Every year, Sunday to Saturday across Valentine’s week. In 2026, it ran February 8 to 14, and in 2027 it starts on Valentine’s Day itself.
The National Association for Children of Addiction, known as NACoA, runs it. Its founding year is undocumented, and the group now calls it COA Awareness Week.
A Long-Running Campaign
Federal agencies have joined in for years. In February 2012, the week ran from the 12th to the 18th, and NACoA’s Sis Wenger wrote about it for the White House blog. “Caring adults can change the trajectory of an affected child’s life,” she wrote.
SAMHSA timed a report to that week. It found 7.5 million children under 18 lived with a parent who had an alcohol use disorder in the past year.
NACoA now frames it as “an international week of awareness and hope,” aimed at children affected by any parental substance use.
Why These Children Need Attention
Far more kids are affected than most people guess. In 2023, nearly 19 million U.S. children, about 1 in 4, lived with a parent or caregiver with a substance use disorder.
Alcohol was the most common problem. More than 12 million children had a parent with an alcohol use disorder, NIH reported in 2025.
Many families face more than one challenge. More than 6 million children had a parent dealing with both a substance use disorder and a mental illness.
Treatment gaps make it harder. Wenger cited SAMHSA data showing 90% of people who need treatment for alcohol or drug use don’t get it.
Kids often blame themselves. One ten-year-old quoted by NACoA said, “Now I know it’s not my fault. I didn’t cause my mom’s drinking, and I can still be okay.”
How Adults Can Help
- Tell a child you trust that a parent’s drinking is not their fault.
- Share NACoA’s free resources with teachers, coaches and school counselors.
- Point teens toward Alateen, a free peer support program run by Al-Anon.
- Ask your mayor or county leader for a COA Awareness Week proclamation.
- Host a resource table or discussion at a school, library or place of worship.
- Watch the recorded talks from NACoA’s 2026 speaker series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Children of Alcoholics Week only about alcohol?
No. The campaign now includes kids hurt by a parent’s drug use as well.
Is it observed outside the U.S.?
Yes. NACoA calls it international, and similar groups mark it elsewhere.
How common is this worldwide?
NACoA puts it at 10% to 15% of the world’s children.
Sources
- NACoA – COA Awareness Week
- The White House (archived) – A Week Dedicated to the Children of Alcoholics (2012)
- Newswise – SAMHSA report: 7.5 million children live with a parent with an alcohol use disorder (2012)
- NIH Research Matters – Millions of U.S. kids live with parents with substance use disorders (2025)