When Parents Use Drugs, Kids Are Put In Harm’s Way
Addicts are often told they have a “disease” or genetic predisposition to substance abuse. While this is merely theoretical and debatable at best, the effects of drug abuse are not worth the crutch of this justification. This is especially true in the case of parents who use drugs. Parental drug abuse puts more kids in harm’s way, leading to sometimes fatal consequences.
These consequences are often permanent and interfere with the long term stability of the child into adulthood. So, how can this problem be resolved?
The Forms of Child Abuse and The Connection
Child abuse comes in many forms; the most overt is physical abuse, including sexual abuse. Less obvious is emotional abuse, which includes criticism, threats, and anything which puts stress on the child emotionally. Domestic violence can also be a source of emotional abuse, as it presents a dangerous environment to the child and causes fear and instability. Violent movies or upsetting newscasts can create the same effect on children.
Perhaps, the least obvious form of child abuse is neglect. Some addiction experts speculate that nearly all child neglect cases involve drugs. While drugs do cause abusive behavior, more often it causes parents to leave children neglected. Parents may leave home for days at a time, leaving their children unattended. They may be present at home but emotionally distant because of drugs. Children may come home to find parents passed out on the couch from intoxication or drug abuse. This leads to physical as well as emotional stress on the child. He may be left home alone, may not be fed properly, and babies may not get their diapers changed. Family responsibilities are often left up to the older siblings, who can’t always manage things as a parent would. Academic performance is affected as children may be frequently late to school, be neglectful of homework, or suffer from not enough sleep or lack of proper nourishment. Children may turn to violence themselves, in an attempt to vent their frustration.
Unfortunately, child neglect goes unaddressed too frequently. This form of child abuse, while not making headlines, can cause severe illness, accidents and death in children.
Child Drug Exposure Is Another Form Of Abuse
Another issue of great concern is that of child exposure to drugs, which can be dangerous and life-threatening. Yet a surprising number of adults allow their children to be exposed to toxic poisons like alcohol and other drugs. Approximately thirty to thirty-five percent of Meth labs seized are in homes where children live. Close to seventy percent of children removed from labs have a urine drug test that is positive for meth.
Children are at a greater risk than adults in these conditions due to higher rates of metabolism and development, and because of their hand-to-mouth behavior and increased contact with their environment. Children may inhale toxic fumes from the chemicals used to synthesize these drugs. Clothing and skin may come into contact with improperly stored chemicals. Chemical waste may be disposed of in play areas, and there is an increased risk of explosions and fires. There is the possibility of children stumbling upon hypodermic needles, glass smoking pipes and razor blades as these are typical drug paraphernalia. Weapons are often left out and booby traps are frequently set to protect the labs from law enforcement.
What this all adds up to is damage on the child. The solution: effective drug rehabilitation for parents that are addicted. Such use by parents should never be let go or tolerated.
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About the Author: Melanie Ling has written at length about the facets concerning substance abuse. She writes about numerous other topics related to psychology, wellness and health, as well.