Children of alcoholics: ‘We lived in secrecy, brushing everything under the carpet, pretending everything was perfect’

As children of alcoholic fathers, Amy Dickson and Sarah Drage bonded over their shared experiences. They are now passionate about the need for greater support to be offered to those in their position

Sarah Drage: ‘He was dying and I didn’t have the resources. I didn’t know what to do, he didn’t know what to do’

Suzanne Harrington

Amy Dickson and Sarah Drage both had dads called Steve. Sarah’s dad Steve died in 2017 and Amy’s dad Steve died in 2020, when both were still in their 60s. Amy and Sarah didn’t know each other then – they met through the National Association for Children Of Alcoholics, also known as the UK charity Nacoa. Now they host a podcast together.

They tell me about the first time they spoke. “We just had this phone call that didn’t stop,” says Sarah. “On my husband’s birthday,” laughs Amy. Sarah explains, “We couldn’t stop talking. There were so many me-too moments”.