Understanding the Diverse Needs of Children Whose Parents Abuse Substances

Abstract

In this review, we consider the potential service needs of children of substance abusing parents based on what we know about the risk outcomes faced by these children and the parenting deficits often present in these families. Importantly, our review does not address the etiological role of parental substance abuse in children's negative outcomes but instead we discuss the complex inter-related risk factors that often co-occur with and exacerbate risk associated with parental alcohol and drug use. We first review studies showing the elevated risk that children of substance abusing parents face in general for poorer academic functioning; emotional, behavioral, and social problems; and an earlier onset of substance use, faster acceleration in substance use patterns, and higher rates of alcohol and drug use disorders. We then review studies showing contextual risk factors for children of substance abusing parents, including parenting deficits (less warmth, responsiveness, and physical and verbal engagement as well as harsher and more over-involved interaction styles), greater risk for child maltreatment, and less secure attachment patterns. We conclude with a discussion of future directions for research and guidelines for professionals working with children and their families where parental substance abuse is present.

Maternal pre-pregnancy risk drinking and toddler behavior problems: the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study

“…Maternal psychopathology appeared to be a particularly potent explanatory factor for the associations between pre-pregnancy risk drinking and toddler behavior problems. Maternal psychopathology is an independent and strong risk factor for child behavior problems [19, 55], and the risk for adverse child outcomes increases if both risk drinking and psychopathology are present in the mother [56]. The literature is inconclusive on whether the effect of parental risk drinking on child outcomes is largely explained by parental psychopathology, but evidence suggests that these are important co-occurring risk factors [56].…”

“…Maternal psychopathology is an independent and strong risk factor for child behavior problems [19, 55], and the risk for adverse child outcomes increases if both risk drinking and psychopathology are present in the mother [56]. The literature is inconclusive on whether the effect of parental risk drinking on child outcomes is largely explained by parental psychopathology, but evidence suggests that these are important co-occurring risk factors [56]. Both maternal risk drinking and psychopathology may impact the mothers’ attachment and behavior towards her toddler [55, 56].…”

“…The literature is inconclusive on whether the effect of parental risk drinking on child outcomes is largely explained by parental psychopathology, but evidence suggests that these are important co-occurring risk factors [56]. Both maternal risk drinking and psychopathology may impact the mothers’ attachment and behavior towards her toddler [55, 56]. In the present study, we were not able to examine whether maternal pre-pregnancy risk drinking was associated with parenting deficits or poorer attachment, and this should be a focus of future studies.…”

Mental health conditions among adolescents of substance dependent parents

“…3,4 These people are in the vicious cycle of relapse and recovery of drug dependency, thus making their family members specially their young children highly vulnerable to develop some form of psychological or mental health problems at any point of their lives. 5,6 Hence, it is needed to identify the substance dependent individuals with children and bring them family focused interventions.…”

Development of an Academic Achievement Risk Assessment Scale for Undergraduates: Low, Medium and High Achievers

“…Moreover, parental substance or alcohol abuse also increases a child's risk for behavioral problems that include drug and alcohol abuse, socialskill deficits, and low educational attainment (Fillmore, 1987;Solis, Shadur, Burns, & Hussong, 2012;Winters, 2006). Findings indicate that children from anti-social alcoholic families are most susceptible to relative intellectual, cognitive, and academic deficits.…”