ACE

1. Parental Substance Abuse
Andrea DeWitte

2. Description
• Substance abuse is a patterned use of a drug that is harmful to the user
causing physical, social, and psychological harm (WHO)
• Common substance abuse drugs include: alcohol, marijuana, cocaine,
heroin, meth, and opioids
• Substance abuse is a significant problem in today’s society,
unfortunately, millions of American children live in homes with parents
or caregivers who are regularly involved in alcohol or drug use
• A parent’s substance abuse may affect their ability to consistently
prioritize their children’s basic physical and emotional needs and provide
a safe, nurturing environment (Smith 2016)

3. Prevalence
• 9.5 million children are living with parents who are substance abusers
(Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality 2015)
 7.3 million with a parent dependent or abusing alcohol
 2.2 million with a parent dependent or abusing illicit drugs
• 1:6 children in school today has a parent dependent on or addicted to
alcohol or other drugs (Davies, 2010)
• 70% of abused and neglected children have alcohol or drug abusing
parents (National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse)
• Children whose parents abuse drugs/alcohol are 3x more likely to
experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse and 4x more likely to
experience neglect compared to their peers (DrugRehab)
• Children who grow up in homes with a parent who abuses drugs or
alcohol are more likely to begin using drugs or alcohol

4. Common Behaviors
• Trust issues
• Lack of attachment
• Guilt
• Shame
• Trouble concentrating in school
• Tired/Stressed
• Aggression
• Low self esteem
• Drawing pictures or role playing themes of drug and
alcohol use
• Attention seeking behaviors
• Higher risk developing of mental illness; anxiety,
depression, or eating disorders

5. Resources
• Coulee Council on Addictions
http://www.couleecouncil.org/parentfamily-
resources.html
• National Association for Children of Alcoholics
http://nacoa.org/
• U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Children’s Bureau
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/
• Therapy
• Counseling

6. Strategies for Paras
• Encourage the child and be a positive role model
• Reassure the child that it is not their fault
• Reassure the child that you care about them and are there for
them
• Keep the child’s home life confidential
• Observe behavioral indicators and report to a superior if needed

7. Video
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z1RkypLIUA

8. Living Situations
• Foster care- Child Protective Services
• Living with the parent with a substance abuse problem
• Living with another family member: grandparents, aunts/uncles,
other parent

9. Which child looks like
they have a parent
who abuses
drugs/alcohol?

10. Sources
• http://performancepyramid.miamioh.edu/node/1326
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201607/harvard-
study-pegs-how-parental-substance-abuse-impacts-kids
• http://digitalcommons.providence.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1013&cont
ext=socialwrk_students
• http://www.drugrehab.us/news/parental-drug-addiction-children/
• Substance abuse. (2016). World Health Organization. Retrieved 18 October
2016, from http://www.who.int/topics/substance_abuse/en/
• Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2015). Behavioral health
trends in the United States: Results from the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use
and Health (HHS Publication No. SMA 15-4927, NSDUH Series H-50). Retrieved
from http://www.samhsa.gov/ data/
• Davies, L (2010. An Educator’s Guide to Children Affected by Parental Drug
Abuse. Education Digest, 75(8) 62-64.