NCJ Number
154410
Date Published
1992
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This booklet provides information intended to increase the reader's knowledge and awareness of the destructive impact substance abuse can have on the family, especially on children; this information is intended to help identify these problems and prevent the damaging consequences.
Abstract
The discussion of the emotional impact on a child of an addicted parent notes that children raised in the often unstable and chaotic environment of the drug-abusing parent have an increased risk for physical and emotional illness. One of the most toxic factors is parental unpredictability; at times the parent may be warm and friendly toward the child, and in the next instant become angry or violent. The substance-abusing parent may also blame the child for his/her problems. This can lead to guilt, depression, and low self-esteem in the child. A discussion of a child's feelings toward a substance-abusing parent encompasses resentment, anger, and guilt. A listing of common problems of children with a substance-abusing parent is followed by a description of how substance-abusing parents act toward their children. Remaining sections of the booklet address the effect of parental substance abuse on a child's schooling, substance abuse as a family problem, the roles of the spouse and the children, coping skills for family members, help for the family, and coping strategies for children during their parents' recovery. 7 resource listings