A teenage victim of binge-drinking parents speaks out

I am a high school student from Cambridge Bay. I am currently attending Grade 11 and enjoy it.

There are ups and downs that I have in my life because of alcohol in my home, due to parents being loud when they are partying and sometimes my little brother doesn’t want to eat, it has affected him so much. We cry together very often.

Do we really belong in this family? There are times me and my brother have to hide in my closet from so many people who are intoxicated in our home.

This is making me my brother suffer very much. I am very fed up with my parents going to the Elks’ Club. All they ever do is spend their money at the Elks Club and the money they make, everything goes towards alcohol only.

I think Cambridge Bay should have a hotline for teens that are having all sorts of problems.

I am asking for one wish, to spend quality time, a sober time with my parents during this Christmas holiday.

School will be done by the middle of next month, so please hold off on any alcohol coming into Cambridge Bay.

This is going to make me and my family bond together. I think Nunavut should have something like this for students who are attending high school, so please stop any liquor coming in before school is out in our community, thank you very much.

PS: I will write back to you after the holidays on how things turned out. I am very thankful for having friends who let me and my little brother sleep over. God bless them all.

(Name withheld by request)
Cambridge Bay

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