Children as young as five are contacting ChildLine to talk about concerns over their parents' drink and drug abuse, a new report has revealed.
Belfast and Foyle-based counselors with the charity took calls from 354 children, some still at primary school, wanting to talk about problems related to their parents.
Over 4000 children who rang ChildLine across the UK last year said they were worried about their parents' excessive drinking.
These callers are also three times more likely to mention suffering physical abuse, according to the latest figures.
ChildLine say the new report reveals for the first time an insight into the lives of children who are desperately trying to cope with a traumatic role reversal where they are attempting to look after their parents, brothers and sisters.
It says that despite this "huge burden of responsibility" they are more concerned with solving their families' problems than their own.
ChildLine counselor Alex Gray said: "These young people actually end up almost as carers, maybe for their parents or for their siblings.
"When you think that these are young people as young as five, what a huge burden to be carrying."
Paddy Shannon, assistant director for ChildLine in Northern Ireland said the issue needs to be tackled before young lives are lost.
"It's vital these children are helped before lasting damage occurs," he said. "Children living with parental alcohol and drug problems are at more risk of harm and we need to find ways of helping them sooner.
"The ChildLine service has given a voice to these hidden children, many of whom feel they have a shameful secret to hide. Many have never told anyone before calling us."
He described the burden of parents' alcohol and drug problems as "a ticking time bomb".
"Some children told ChildLine about their parents' severe mood swings, episodes of violence, and emotional instability," he said.
"These children desperately need help to tackle their problems but feel they have no one to turn to. So they often end up caring for their siblings and even their own parents by themselves."
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