Human Services News

From EurekAlert! - Breaking News:

A review published in the journal Advances in Psychiatric Treatment suggests how children whose parents have drug or alcohol problems can be protected from the consequences usually associated with parental substance misuse.

Drawing on research from around the world, the review highlights ways of reducing children's exposure to risk and increasing the protective factors that promote the child's resilience.

"The children of people with drug or alcohol problems usually suffer very badly," said Professor Richard Velleman from the Mental Health R&D Unit (MHRDU), a collaboration between the University of Bath (UK) and the Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.

"Conservative estimates suggest as many as 26 million people in the UK are affected by problematic alcohol and drug misuse in their immediate family.

"As a result, these family members are more likely to experience high levels of violence, witness or experience abuse, and suffer other disruptions to family life.

"This can lead to depression and anxiety, or involve early drug or alcohol misuse and antisocial behaviour.

The findings highlight the risk factors -- such as domestic violence, both parents being substance misusers, exposure to criminal activity and witnessing someone injecting drugs - that place family members at greater risk of negative outcomes.

It also shows the factors and processes -- such as improving parenting techniques, helping the child learn to disengage from negative situations and support from school, family and other networks - that make children more resilient to the negative impacts of parental drug or alcohol misuse.