Effect of Parental Substance Abuse/Dependency on Children

Effect of Parental Substance Abuse/Dependency on Children AGC Foster Parent Training 2012-2013

The Problem: • According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University an estimated 27 million children live with a parent that abuses or is dependant on alcohol or another substance. • Parental Substance Use Disorders have become a huge problem in the United States.

The Problem: • This is a big problem because Alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use are among the most common causes of disease and mortality in the United States. • Also, the use of alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drugs during pregnancy can significantly impact the future growth and functioning of young children.

Alcohol: • 19% of pregnant women reported drinking alcohol during their first trimester • This is very dangerous because consuming alcohol while pregnant can cause a group of harmful conditions know as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders or FASD. • FASD is 100% preventable if women do not drink alcohol while pregnant. There is no safe way or time to drink during pregnancy to prevent FASD.

A person with an FASD might have: • Abnormal facial features, such as a smooth ridge between the nose and upper lip (this ridge is called the philtrum) • Small head size • Shorter-than-average height • Low body weight • Poor coordination • Hyperactive behavior • Difficulty paying attention • Poor memory

A person with an FASD might have: • Difficulty in school (especially with math) • Learning disabilities • Speech and language delays • Intellectual disability or low IQ • Poor reasoning and judgment skills • Sleep and sucking problems as a baby • Vision or hearing problems • Problems with the heart, kidneys, or bones

Types of FASDs Different terms are used to describe FASDs, depending on the type of symptoms. • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS): FAS represents the severe end of the FASD spectrum. Fetal death is the most extreme outcome from drinking alcohol during pregnancy. People with FAS might have abnormal facial features, growth problems, and central nervous system (CNS) problems. People with FAS can have problems with learning, memory, attention span, communication, vision, or hearing. They might have a mix of these problems. People with FAS often have a hard time in school and trouble getting along with others. • Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND): People with ARND might have intellectual disabilities and problems with behavior and learning. They might do poorly in school and have difficulties with math, memory, attention, judgment, and poor impulse control. • Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD): People with ARBD might have problems with the heart, kidneys, or bones or with hearing. They might have a mix of these.

Childhood Behavior and Characteristics Associated with FAS, ARND, and ARBD

Treatment • FASDs last a lifetime. There is no cure for FASDs, but research shows that early intervention treatment services can improve a child’s development. • There are many types of treatment options, including medication to help with some symptoms, behavior and education therapy, parent training, and other alternative approaches. No one treatment is right for every child. Good treatment plans will include close monitoring, follow-ups, and changes as needed along the way.

Protective Factors • Also, “protective factors” can help reduce the effects of FASDs and help people with these conditions reach their full potential. • Protective factors include: • Diagnosis before 6 years of age • Loving, nurturing, and stable home environment during the school years • Absence of violence • Involvement in special education and social services

Prenatal Exposure to Drugs • Click here to watch a video on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

Cocaine or marijuana use during pregnancy may result in premature birth, low birth weight, decreased head circumference, or miscarriage. Prenatal exposure to marijuana has been associated with difficulties in functioning of the brain. Even if there are no noticeable effects in the children at birth, the impact of prenatal substance use often can become evident later in their lives. As they get older, children who were exposed to cocaine prenatally can have difficulty focusing their attention, be more irritable, and have more behavioral problems

The Impact on Childhood Development • Disruption of the Bonding Process • Emotional, Academic, and Developmental Problems • Lack of Supervision • Parentification • Social Stigma • Adolescent Substance Use and Delinquency

Time Tables: CPS & SUD • CPS agencies and SUD treatment providers have their own timetables for establishing family and individual well-being. The Adoption and Safe Families Act (P.L. 105-89) requires CPS agencies to: • Establish a permanency plan within 12 months of a child entering the child welfare system • Initiate proceedings to terminate parental rights if a child has been in foster care for 15 of the most recent 22 months. • SUD treatment can range from weeks or months to years. CPS caseworkers and treatment providers, therefore, should communicate frequently to make sure that this time is productive and to serve the children and families most effectively.

THE 3 C’s You did not cause it You cannot controlit. You cannot cureit

Effects of Parental Substance Use Disorders • A predictable, consistent home environment and a positive caregiver are essential for normal child development. • However, substance abuse can corrupt the home environment and the caregiver relationship, disrupting the child’s development.

Impact on Childhood Development • Emotional, academic, and developmental problems • Disruption of the bonding process • Lack of supervision • Parentification • Social Stigma • Adolescent substance abuse and delinquency

RESOURCES http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/substanceuse/chapterthree.cfm#prenatal http://books.google.com/books?id=zuqXTeEyAewC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false http://www.cdc.gov/NCBDDD/fasd/facts.html

Effect of Parental Substance Abuse/Dependency on Children