The Impact of Parental Substance Abuse Upon Children
The Impact of Parental Substance Abuse Upon Children
Leighsa Machus
California State University, Bakersfield, Antelope Valley
Abstract
Children of substance abusers face tremendous disadvantages. They are exposed and vulnerable to situations that may affect their psychological development in damaging ways (Wolfe, 1999). These children are also at risk for a myriad of abuse such as physical, emotional, sexual abuse and neglect. Research has documented the ways that substance abusing parents affect the lives and well-being of children in disastrous ways. The impact that a substance abusing parent has on the children and family can have long lasting, lifetime negative consequences in the psyche of the victims. Suggestions for effective treatment is prevention, intervention and treatment (counseling and support groups) for the perpetrators and the victims, especially for those most vulnerable; the children.
Keywords:
parental substance abuse, child maltreatment
The Impact of Substance Abuse on Children The first thing that needs to be examined is what substance abuse is. According to Kroll (2003), substance abuse can take many forms such as alcohol, drugs and polydrugs that lead to psychological, social and physical harm. Substances that fit in this category include: methadone, heroine, cocaine, crack, cannabis, ecstasy, and others. Child maltreatment is defined as abuse, neglect and acts of omission which place the children at risk for harm (Kroll, 2003). According to Wolfe (1999), there are four types of child abuse or maltreatment: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services conducted three studies and created a refined definitions for each type of child abuse such as 1) the harm standard, where a child has suffered some kind of clear abuse, like a broken arm, and 2) the endangerment standard, which includes harm standard in addition to any abuse experience that
Leighsa Machus
California State University, Bakersfield, Antelope Valley
Abstract
Children of substance abusers face tremendous disadvantages. They are exposed and vulnerable to situations that may affect their psychological development in damaging ways (Wolfe, 1999). These children are also at risk for a myriad of abuse such as physical, emotional, sexual abuse and neglect. Research has documented the ways that substance abusing parents affect the lives and well-being of children in disastrous ways. The impact that a substance abusing parent has on the children and family can have long lasting, lifetime negative consequences in the psyche of the victims. Suggestions for effective treatment is prevention, intervention and treatment (counseling and support groups) for the perpetrators and the victims, especially for those most vulnerable; the children.
Keywords:
parental substance abuse, child maltreatment
The Impact of Substance Abuse on Children The first thing that needs to be examined is what substance abuse is. According to Kroll (2003), substance abuse can take many forms such as alcohol, drugs and polydrugs that lead to psychological, social and physical harm. Substances that fit in this category include: methadone, heroine, cocaine, crack, cannabis, ecstasy, and others. Child maltreatment is defined as abuse, neglect and acts of omission which place the children at risk for harm (Kroll, 2003). According to Wolfe (1999), there are four types of child abuse or maltreatment: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services conducted three studies and created a refined definitions for each type of child abuse such as 1) the harm standard, where a child has suffered some kind of clear abuse, like a broken arm, and 2) the endangerment standard, which includes harm standard in addition to any abuse experience that
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