A Comparison of the Psychosocial Functioning of Children with Drug‐Versus Alcohol‐Dependent Fathers

Housing and Support Services with Homeless Mothers: Benefits to the Mother and Her Children

“…It may be that providers assume that when the mother's mental health and substance use problems are treated, or homelessness is resolved, problems observed among their children will remit (Brinamen et al, 2012). In fact, Cooke et al (2004) found that children of substance users showed reduced internalizing and externalizing behaviors following the treatment of their substance use disordered parent, even though the children were not directly treated. Indeed, housing likely reduces the stress among children inasmuch as it increases the sense of stability and safety.…”

The case for examining and treating the combined effects of parental drug use and interparental violence on children in their homes

“…As might be expected, in comparison to alcohol-dependent patients, individuals who primarily abuse drugs other than alcohol are more impaired across a range of psychological and social aspects of functioning (Miller, 1993). Similarly, Cooke, Kelley, Fals-Stewart, and Golden (2004) found that, as compared to fathers in which men met criteria for alcohol abuse, drug-abusing fathers had significantly higher subscale scores (indicating more problems) on five of the seven Addiction Severity Index subscales (i.e., Drug, Legal, Medical, Employment, and Family). Because children whose parents abuse substances other than alcohol may confront a more complex and potentially detrimental set of obstacles to healthy development, the focus of this paper is children of substance- abusers (COSAs).…”

Parental Prescription Opioid Abuse and the Impact on Children

“…As a result of both genetic and environmental factors, parental substance abuse is associated with a number of negative consequences on children. For example, children of parents who abuse illicit drugs or alcohol have an increased likelihood for problematic behaviors, including decreased obedience, increased aggression, showing anger and irritability, fighting, teasing, increased involvement with deviant peers, and criminal activity (1,(3)(4)(5). These children are at risk for other social problems such as reduced social competence, increased withdrawal and detachment, and fear of new situations (4)(5)(6).…”

“…For example, children of parents who abuse illicit drugs or alcohol have an increased likelihood for problematic behaviors, including decreased obedience, increased aggression, showing anger and irritability, fighting, teasing, increased involvement with deviant peers, and criminal activity (1,(3)(4)(5). These children are at risk for other social problems such as reduced social competence, increased withdrawal and detachment, and fear of new situations (4)(5)(6). Furthermore, parental drug abuse is associated with decreased scores on achievement tests, truancy, suspensions, repeating grades, and other school-related difficulties (3,7,8).…”

“…Parental illicit drug and alcohol abuse has also been linked to internalized child psychopathology, such as anxiety disorders and major depression, and externalized psychopathology, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, oppositional defiance disorder, and substance use disorders (SUDs) (4,(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). In particular, children of parents who abuse opioids are at greater risk to experience psychological distress and psychopathology, to grow up in poverty, and to have reduced family cohesion compared with children of parents who abuse other illicit drugs and alcohol (4,8).…”