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Different but the same? Exploring the experiences of young people caring for a parent with an alcohol or other drug issue

Although children of parents with an alcohol or other drug (AOD) issue appear to assume a range of caring responsibilities within their families they have, until recently, been excluded from the growing body of young-carer research, policy and practice. This is problematic, as this group may experience greater levels of social exclusion whilst experiencing similar negative impacts of care as their caring peers. This paper discusses the findings of an exploratory qualitative research project conducted in Canberra, Australia which attempted to further understand these young people's experiences and to consider how they might best be supported. The paper challenges the way that young caring has been conceptualised and suggests that unless a number of conceptual, structural and organisational changes are made, young people caring for a parent with an AOD issue may remain relatively unsupported.

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Additional Titles
Journal of Youth Studies

Key Information

Type of Reference
Jour
Type of Work
Article
ISBN/ISSN
13676261
Resource Database
A9h
Publication Year
2011
Issue Number
2
Volume Number
14
Start Page
161-177