I. Statistical
Data
It
has been reported that children of substance abusing parents are at higher risk
for alcohol and drug use, depression, poor academic performance and
delinquency. To establish a good population estimate a study was conducted
using nationally representative date from the National Household Survey on Drug
Abuse (NHSDA) in obtaining the number of children affected by parental
substance use and abuse (Huang, et. al., 2007).
The
study interviewed biological, adaptive, foster and step children, under the age
of 18 who live with one or both parents. Eight substance abuse measures were
represented in the interview: need for illicit drug abuse treatment, illicit
drug dependence, alcohol dependence, alcohol and/or illicit drug dependence,
alcohol dependence and/or need for illicit drug abuse treatment, past-year
illicit drug use, past-month illicit drug use, and past-month cigarette use
(Huang, et. al., 2007). Using the method, the number of children, below 18
years of age and living with one or more parent was estimated to be
approximately 75 children.
The
result of the study showed that about 6% or 4 million of the 75 million
children had at least one parent who is in need of illicit drug abuse treatment.
About 4% or 3 million children live with at least one parent who is dependent
on illicit drugs. About 8% or 6 million children live with at least one parent
who is dependent on alcohol. About 14% or 11 million children live with at
least one parent who had used illicit drug in the past month. About 50% or 38
million children live with at least one parent who used cigarette in the past
month.
As
to percentage distribution by age, the result showed that a large percentage of
younger children live in a household where one or both the parents use illicit
drugs. 12% of children below the age of 2 live with parents who used illicit
drugs in the past month. Only 10% of ages 14 to 17 live with parents who used
illicit drugs in the past month. This shows that younger parents are more
likely to use these drugs than older parents (Huang, et. al. 2007). The study
concluded that a large number of children today are at risk because of parental
drug use.
II. Parental
Drug abuse and Maltreatment
According to the National Committee
to Prevent Child Abuse, it is estimated that 81% of reported case of child
abuse or child maltreatment is related to substance abuse of parents. This is
because drug abuse is one of the top two problems of these families. In the
confirmed cases of child maltreatment, 40% of the cases are linked with alcohol
or drugs. This means that 480,000 children are direct victims of alcohol or
drug abuse. The mistreatment is either done by the parent/s or caregivers who
use drugs or alcohol (NCPCA Fact Sheet, 1997).
Moreover,
research has shown that in most case of emotional abuse and neglect, the main
cause is the parental drug use or alcohol use. In fact, the majority of cases
of children removed from their homes due to neglect are because of parental
drug problems at home.
Accordingly
more than one million children each year are victims of child abuse and neglect
and at least three children die every day as a result of neglect and child
abuse. This relationship between child abuse and neglect and parental drug
shows that the risk of child abuse and neglect is higher for the children who
live in single parent household since there is no other adult to protect the
child from the effects of parental drug problem of the parents.
III. How
parental drug abuse affect children
The
children of drug abusive parents suffer emotionally, physically, mentally and a
variety of other abuses. Parents who use drugs may behave abusively and the
children under this environment may eventually develop behavioral problems and
may have conduct disorders. Drug abusive parents cannot nurture their children
properly. And considering all the other reports on maltreatment, the children
grow up in disruptive homes without parental supervision and modeling.
The
children then lack guidance, positive role models and live in isolation. As a
result, they then have low self-esteem and may suffer from anxiety and
depression. Stress and conflict becomes a part of their life. Studies have also
shown that when these children become adults they will also have the same
problems with these substances (NCPCA Fact Sheet, 1997).
Children
also have the tendency to blame themselves for their parent’s behavior and
problems. Thus these children will feel guilty and responsible for their
parent’s substance abuse problems. Moreover, these children know that what
their parents are doing is illegal. In the long run, these children will have
difficulty trusting authorities because they are afraid that their parent’s
illegal action will be discovered.
IV. The
Continuing Cycle of Substance Abuse
As
these children grow older, the effects of maltreatment, neglect and abuse do
not simply go away. These children will have problems of developing healthy
relationship when they reach adulthood. They will also suffer difficulties in
coping with situations. And for the children who live in violence, they are
more likely to grow up being violent adults (NCPCA Fact Sheet, 1997).
Of
course, there are other children who are more resilient and are able to break
from the cycle of abuse. These children are the ones who have successful coping
skills and have the ability to obtain positive attention from other people
aside from their families. Also, if there is the presence of a caring adult,
then a child despite the neglect and abuse may break away from the cycle of
abuse (NCPCA Fact Sheet, 1997).
However,
generally, most of the children became victims who eventually exhibit the same
pattern of abuse as their parents (NCPCA Fact Sheet, 1997). For instance,
children who were physically abused usually show signs of post traumatic
disorder and dissociation and may turn to drugs to alleviate their
psychological distress. Studies have further shown that children of drug
abusive parents are more likely to abuse their children than those who were not
abused.
The
continuing cycle of substance abuse and maltreatment is significantly hard to
break since there is denial and stigma in both of the problems. In most cases,
the maltreatment of children does not get reported, especially by the family
itself. Since the maltreatment is not reported these children of drug users do
not get identified.
Also,
there is the problem of the victims not speaking to anyone about the problem
since these children do not think that others will believe them. There is also
the fear of betraying their parents and the belief that what they are
experiencing is normal. These make it more difficult to identify and help these
children and so the cycle continues.
In
order to stop the cycle of abuse, research has proven that the problem of
substance abuse and the problem of maltreatment should be approached
simultaneously. In order for the parent to improve their parental skills their
substance abuse problem should be first treated. At the same time the
maltreatment of children should be stopped and proper caring and guidance
should be given to the children (NCPCA Fact Sheet, 1997).
At
the same time, more informative campaigns should be done to educate others,
such as teachers, other family members, neighbors, on the signs of substance
abuse and maltreatment of children. These campaigns will help others in contact
with the family in identifying the problem of these children.
V. Current
Assessment of the Problem
The
Cabinet for Health and Family Services, a Division of Protection and
Permanency, conducted a two part research on substance abuse effects on child
maltreatment. The first part of the study was aimed at determining whether the
Continuous Quality Assessment tool used in identifying, assessing and
determining the level of the risk to the home is accurate and to determine
whether there is a strong relationship between drug of choice and maltreatment
(Dobson & Reliford, 2005).
The
study proved the Continuous Quality Assessment tool is not very accurate in
reflecting substance abuse in the cases of maltreatment of children. This means
that the number of maltreatment cases due to parent drug abuse is even greater
than what is estimated.
The
study also proved that drug of choice is related to the severity of
maltreatment, the permanency of substance abuse and maltreatment, and whether
the treatment will be sought by the parent/s (Dobson & Reliford, 2005).
Proper intervention can be done by understanding the significance of the drug
of choice of the parents.
The
second part of the study interviewed case managers and treatment providers of
child protection/substance abuse case. A structured interview guide was used
and the interview was recorded, transcribed and with the use of the Tesch’s
data analysis, common themes were discovered (Dobson & Reliford, 2005).
The
result of the second part of the study revealed that the case managers
generally agreed that substance abuse continues to increase as major risk
factor in about 85 to 90% of the cases. The case managers also agreed that
there is a need for more training for the care providers to deal with the issue
of substance abuse and maltreatment. The case managers showed concern about the
present inability of the workers on identifying, assessing and planning for
substance abuse problems. Further, there is also the need for more funding for
drug treatment (Dobson & Reliford, 2005).
Works
Cited
Dobson, Jane B. and Reliford,
Beverly. 2005. Substance Abuse Effects on Child Maltreatment.
Kent School
of Social Work. Retrieved 13 February 2008 from
http://chfs.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/0B506610-D125-4E03-8C42-ED4E2F0C4B91/0/2005FSSUBSTANCEABUSEDobson_Jane_B.pdf
Huang, Lynn X., et. al.,
2007Children at Risk Because of Parental Substance Abuse.
US Department of
Health and Human Services Office of Applied Studies
Retrieved 13
February 2008 from
http://www.drugabusestatistics.samhsa.gov/treatan/treana08.htm
NCPCA Fact Sheet. 1997. National
Committee to Prevent Child Abuse.
National CASA
Association. Retrieved 13 February 2008 from
http://www.casanet.org/library/addiction/ncpca.htm
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