Parental substance use may affect children’s behaviour

New York: Children whose parents misuse alcohol or use,
produce or distribute drugs face an increased risk of medical and behavioural
problems, says a study.

“Parents’
or caregivers’ substance use may affect their ability to consistently
prioritise their children’s basic physical and emotional needs and provide a
safe, nurturing environment,” said study co-author Vincent Smith,
Neonatologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston,
Massachusetts.

Whether from
the toxic effects of exposure to these substances or from the neglect of their
basic needs by parents or caretakers struggling with substance use disorders,
children in these households commonly experience developmental and educational
delays and, later, are at higher risk for mental health and behavioural
problems.

They also are
more likely than their peers to have substance use disorders themselves later
in life.

In their
report, the experts from BIDMC and Boston Children’s Hospital reviewed the
clinical signs of foetal exposure to alcohol, cannabis, stimulants and opioids.

The report
appeared online in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Association of
Pediatrics.

Citing
studies that say children whose parents use drugs and misuse alcohol are three
times more likely to be physically, sexually or emotionally abused and four
times more likely to be neglected than their peers, the authors urged all
paediatricians to include questions about caregivers’ substance use as part of
the routine family assessment.

Some warning
signs of abuse and neglect include: frequent injuries and bruises, especially
in clusters or in patterns that could indicate contact with a hand, belt or
other instrument; children who are withdrawn, fearful or flinch at sudden
movements; a lack in dental care or immunization; or ill-fitting, filthy or
inappropriate clothing.

“Because
these children are at risk of suffering physical or emotional harm,
paediatricians need to know how to assess a child’s risk and to support the
family to get the help they need,” Smith, who is also Assistant Professor
of Paediatrics at Harvard Medical School (HMS), noted.

“Because
paediatricians are the health care providers most likely to encounter families
with young children who may be affected by substance use, they have the
opportunity to help break multigenerational cycles of abuse,” the authors
said.

--IANS