Living in a home with an alcoholic or alcohol abusing person, whether parent, sibling, grandparent, guardian or other person, can be difficult for a child, and the combined problems in the household relationships and environment may have adverse effects on such a child not only in childhood, but in adulthood as well. Research and clinical evidence have shown that children in alcoholic households are at higer risk in developing alcoholism or other alcohol related problems themselves than are their peers who grow up in homes where alcoholism or alcohol abuse is not present. Regrettably, such children are often reluctant to seek help from available resources such as school guidance counselors, clergymen or even from relatives and are often unaware of or unfamiliar with other available community resources. It is essential for the welfare of such children that competent, sympathetic and caring help provided by qualified professionals in the form of preventive alcoholism counseling services be available to them throughout the State.