Parental substance abuse has negative consequences on a child’s a behavioral, medical, psychiatric, emotional,social and educational development. “...8.3 million children live with at least one parent who abused or was dependent on alcohol or an illicit drug” (The Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, Children's Bureau., ICF International, 2009).
The bond between parents and their children is one of the most important aspects towards a positive childhood development. A parent(s) attention toward their children’s development and a healthy boding relationship is altered because sadly their substance is put before their child, parent’s who are substance free put their children before all else in their lives. “Parents who use marijuana, for example, may have difficulty picking up their babies' cues because marijuana dulls response time and alters perceptions. When parents repeatedly miss their babies' cues, the babies eventually stop providing them. The result is disengaged parents with disengaged babies” (The Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, Children's Bureau., ICF International, 2009). Children with parents who are substance abusers sadly become victims of their environment; a chaotic, ineffective communication, and unpredictable world.
Parental substance abusers focus their time on obtaining or how they will obtain substance. Every minute that is used chasing their substance, is a minute that their children at lacking supervision. As a child grows, they become more aware of their surroundings. Children whose parents are substance abusers who have younger siblings are often faced with having to take over a parenting role. At a young age with parental responsibilities of younger siblings and their parents well being on their shoulders can cause anxiety and depression. Though a child tries their best to run the household, their worry and fear for their parents well being can often turn into anger from not having the educational background on substance abuse as a disease. Children take it personally and blame themselves for the reason why their parents don’t care or love them enough to stop abusing substances.
“Positive social and emotional child development generally has been linked to nurturing family settings in which caregivers are predictable, daily routines are respected, and everyone recognizes clear boundaries for acceptable behaviors” (The Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, Children's Bureau., ICF International, 2009). This can play a negative mental and physical aspect in a child’s achievement in school through low test grades and difficulties understanding curriculum. The strain of a unhealthy house hold cause cause a child to suffer from mental disorders that can hold back a child from being mentally and physically healthy that can lead to being inattentive.
ICF International, O. O. C. A. A. N. C. B. (2009 ). How Parental Substance Use Disorders Affect Children . Retrieved from http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/substanceuse/chapterthree.cfm
Mollie Messuri
What is the difference between growing up with one parent who has a substance abuse problem verses having both parents who have a substance abuse problem? If the children grow up with a parent or parents who have substance abuse problem, does this make them more likely to grow up and have a substance abuse problem too?
ReplyDeleteIn your research did you come across any information that illustrates the impact of substance abuse on the other children in the family when the abuser is a sybling?
ReplyDeleteTrecia, my research was based around how children are affected when their parents are substance abusers, not siblings. While researching I did not find any information that illustrated your question.
Delete-Mollie Messuri
I also wonder the difference between having one parent who is an abuser versus two. Would it be as if the child is growing up with a single parent? I would tend to think not, only because they are still exposed to the substance and might feel neglected by a parent even if the parent is physically present.
ReplyDelete-Alexandria Cruz