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Effects of Parental Drug Abuse on Children
Parents who use drugs risk neglecting or causing serious harm to their children. ...
The National Clearing House on Child Abuse and Neglect Information reports, that parents
who abuse drugs come from all walks of life, all ethnic backgrounds, and all socioeconomic
levels. ...
Often, this history includes an early home life marked by family violence, parental substance
abuse, or parental psychiatric disorders. ...
Many substance abusing parents also recount histories of growing up in households in
which there was a blurring of boundaries between parental and child roles. ... Significant numbers of substance abusing
parents report histories of severe neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse during their
childhood and teenage years. ... Moreover having grown up in homes in which parenting
was unpredictable and discipline often abusive, chemically involved parents frequently are ill
equipped to provide effective parenting for their own children ( NC on Child Abuse and
Family Violence ) .
The National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect in Australia says, “ The
misuse of drugs can affect the way people parent and care for their children. Children need their
parents to be available to meet their various needs. ... The use of precious resources to
pay for drugs often results in lack of food, heat, or adequate clothing for children. Poor child
health and hygiene can be the result when parents are so preoccupied with getting high that
they fail to attend to everyday issues, like making sure their children are clean and that they get
regular medical and dental checkups (Massachusetts Citizens for Children) .
Drug abuse can also lead to physical and sexual abuse. Studies show that more than a third of
children with a parent who misuses drugs suffer some form of child abuse or neglect (NAPCAN
Australia).This is not because parents addicted to drugs do not love their children, but because
of the overwhelming effect of the drug on the child. Children whose parents abuse drugs are
three times more likely to be abused than children from non-abusing families ( National Council
on Child Abuse and Family Violence). The abuse of illicit substances can cause or contribute to
violent behavior. A 1998 National Center report on substance abuse within the prison population
found that sixty percent of adults arrested in the U.
Approximate Word count = 1894
Approximate Pages = 7.6
(250 words per page double spaced)
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