U.S.Households With an Addicted Parent Impact 19 Million Children
Nineteen million U.S. children live in a household with at least one parent with a substance use disorder.
According to a new study based on data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 19 million U.S. children live in a household with at least one parent with a substance use disorder (JAMA Pediatrics). This figure represents nearly one-quarter of all children in the United States. The study analyzed data from 62 million parents. Criteria included the use of alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, prescription drugs, and other addictive substances. Alcohol was the most commonly used drug, followed by cannabis and prescription-related misuse.
U.S. Households With an Addicted Parent Impact 19 Million Children
The study used the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to define substance use disorder (SUD) or addiction. Of course, the study highlighted the prevalence of parental SUD among children under the age of 18. The findings also show that more than 6 million children live with a parent with a SUD and a mental illness. 7.6 million children live with a parent with moderate or severe SUD. Another 3.4 million live with a parent with multiple SUDs. Because data was self-reported, the study acknowledged that the number of children impacted may be higher than reported.
The DSM-5 defines a substance use disorder as “A problematic pattern of substance use (SUD) is defined as a problematic pattern of substance use that causes clinically significant impairment or distress. This pattern involves a combination of impaired control, social impairment, risky use, and pharmacological criteria. The DSM-5 combines the previous categories of substance abuse and substance dependence into a single continuum, allowing for the classification of SUD severity as mild, moderate, or severe.”
What are the Effects on Children?
Compared to peers, children in households with SUD are more likely to have an early initiation to addictive substances. They experience an increased risk of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including neglect, trauma, and witnessing a parental overdose. They also have a higher risk of developing substance use disorders and mental health conditions. In the articles below, Carli Noffsinger, LMSW, CAADC, describes the impact and the help available for families with SUDs.
What is the Impact of Addiction on Children?
Sanford Behavioral Health’s family education program discusses the overall impact of addictive disease on families and significant relationships. Children are uniquely impacted when living in households with substance-misusing adults are uniquely affected in their relationships with family. Those impacts vary depending on the age of the children when they are exposed to addictive behaviors and the extent and frequency of their exposure. Many family members who have attended Sanford Behavioral Health’s family education programs have asked specific questions about how children are negatively impacted by exposure to addictive diseases. This article addresses the impacts and interventions for children ten years or younger who are exposed to addiction. Children over ten years and teens will be addressed in a second article. [READ MORE...]
The Impact of Addiction on Children Ages 10 and Older
Children over ten years of age are expanding social contact outside their primary families. They are also more capable of reasoning and verbalizing their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Children of this age can notice differences between how their family functions and the functioning of their friends’ families. This is also the time when we see the challenges and deficits in their ability to handle conflicts in relationships, manage their mood, and solve problems. The experience of any child living in a family with an active addiction will be as unique as they are. When we are dealing with children over ten years old, two significant differences impact this age group. [READ MORE...]
What Can We Do?
The study indicated these findings are a “call to action” for federal, state, and local governments to embrace family-centered treatment for substance use disorders. Proper screening, evidence-based treatment, education, and family support must be provided to reduce the likelihood of long-term consequences for children of addiction.
Sanford Clinical Director Tessa Sterling, LMSW, says, “A child of a parent with a substance use disorder is 8x more likely to develop an addiction than a child growing up in an addiction-free home. This statistic is a clear indicator that getting support with a substance use disorder not only impacts a parent’s quality of life but also directly impacts their children’s lives. Hope and healing are possible for both children and families who are impacted by addiction.”
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