With respect to substance abuse
in any family and possible substance abuse by children in a family, child
welfare and safety are paramount.
The article entitled, “Effects of parental
substance abuse on children and families” suggests
that prevention of addiction and the survival of children exposed to substance
abuse often entails “adaptive distancing, a
technique in which the child separates from the centrifugal pull of family
problems in order to maintain pursuits and seek fulfillment in life, school and
friendships.”
There is no question that
substance abuse creates major, sociological problems, as well as potential
mental, emotional and physical problems for children. Their general health and
well-being must be a primary concern.
While it may not appear to be
the intention of any specific family member to harm another family member,
particularly a child, substance abuse entails addiction and is more serious
than most addicts realize.
Substance abuse by parents or other family members
may result in children becoming substance abusers. They may wind up trafficking
unknowingly, because of the example set by parents or other family members.
With persuasion from them and others, children learn marketing strategies
and begin to sell various kinds of street drugs, not realizing the
seriousness or implications of what they are doing.
Exposure to various kinds of
substance abuse on a regular basis leads to serious, health-related problems,
as well as the likelihood of childhood addiction.
Consider this example.
Marita is a five-year old child
living with her forty-year old mother. The child’s father and grandparents, as
well as numerous other family members of different ages, visit them regularly.
Some are teenagers who use various kinds of substances while babysitting
Marita. Everyone in the family drinks in excess, smokes and uses street drugs.
So do many of their friends, also of various ages.
Marita’s mother only has
sporadic work at a local tavern and difficulty earning enough income to keep a
roof over their heads, as well as feed and clothe her young daughter. She is
addicted to street drugs. On the side, she is bootlegging alcohol, cigarettes
and various substances to supplement her sparse income. People of all ages come
and go from their home known as the party place, at all hours of the night.
The health problems for her
daughter, Marita are complex. She appears pale, thin and malnourished and is
confused, disoriented and weak, at times. Marita has to breathe whatever
substance those looking after her are smoking, as well as continual, second hand smoke
from her mother’s cigarettes, when she is at home. Over time, Marita becomes sicker and sicker, suffering with repeated bouts or respiratory illness
including infections, croup and bouts of asthma. She spends a lot of time in
the hospital.
An altercation between Marita’s
mother and one of her clients results in violence, a visit from the police, as
well as a court order for permanent placement of Marita in a foster home.
Marita immediately tries to get
her foster parents to purchase street drugs for her, arguing that she has to
have her medicine. “I love it,” insists Marita. “I always get it when my mom
sleeps in the daytime.” Marita suggests to her foster parents that her
mother can provide smokes and booze for them, too. “No offer is ever turned
down by my mom. Sometimes, it is free.”
Her foster parents are appalled
as Marita is a child who is obviously addicted to something, as well as
trafficking for her mother. They have no idea how much alcohol or what other harmful
substances have been part of her past life.
Understanding the nature of
substance abuse enables proper parenting, including the safety and protection
of children. While it is a difficult decision for the courts to make, at times,
removing a child from that kind of an environment enables a child to have a
safe and healthy life and thus, proves to be the best possible decision they
can make.
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