Warning over parental substance misuse

Children with parents who abuse drugs and alcohol are more likely to experience mental health, social and academic problems, a seminar in Dublin heard today.

Speaking about supporting children living with parental substance misuse, Joan O'Flynn, director of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, said there was a need for more integrated work between addiction services, children's services and medical professionals to help reduce the impact of parental substance misuse on children.

Ms O'Flynn was commenting following the launch of a report by the advisory committee entitled Parental Substance Misuse: Addressing its Impact on Children.

The report found that, when compared to children whose parents do not misuse drugs and alcohol, children of parents who misuse substances are more likely to experience "a cascading chain of problems" in their lives, including mental health difficulties, social skills problems, academic achievement difficulties and problems with their own substance misuse.

It also highlighted the consequences of substance misuse during pregnancy which can have harmful effects on the baby, such as Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

Ms O'Flynn said alcohol and drugs misuse by parents can impact negatively on a child's experience of positive parenting and can create stressful circumstances that impact on child development.

"Stress incurred as a result of parental substance misuse combined with the increased likelihood of the child being in care and or suffering homelessness, results in these children being at high risk of emotional isolation and or social marginalisation", she said.

For many of the affected children, the effect of their parents' substance misuse continues into their adult lives and even into the lives of the next generation, she said.

Fiona Ryan, director of Alcohol Action Ireland said shame and secrecy shroud the issue of substance misuse in families, with children living lives "of quiet desperation".