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CHILDREN OF ADDICTED PARENTS: Important Facts National Association for Children of Alcoholics CHILDREN OF ADDICTED PARENTS: IMPORTANT FACTS Alcoholism and other drug addiction have genetic and environmental causes. Both have serious consequences for children who live in homes where parents are involved. More than 28 million Americans are children of alcoholics; nearly 11 million are under the age of 18. This figure is magnified by the countless number of others who are affected by parents who are impaired by other psychoactive drugs. 1. Alcoholism and other drug addiction tend to run in families. Children of addicted parents are more at risk for alcoholism and other drug abuse than are other children. • Children of addicted parents are the highest risk group of children to become alcohol and drug abusers due to both genetic and family environment factors.1 • Biological children of alcohol dependent parents who have been adopted continue to have an increased risk (2-9 fold) of developing alcoholism.2 • Recent studies suggest a strong genetic component, particularly for early onset of alcoholism in males. Sons of alcoholic fathers are at fourfold risk compared with the male offspring of non-alcoholic fathers.3 • Use of substances by parents and their adolescent children is strongly correlated; generally, if parents take drugs, sooner or later their children will also.4 Adolescents who use drugs are more likely to have one or more parents who also use drugs.5 • The influence of parental attitudes on a child's drug taking behaviors may be as important as actual drug abuse by the parents.6 An adolescent who perceives that a parent is permissive about the use of drugs is more likely to use drugs.7 2. Family interaction is defined by substance abuse or addiction in a family. • Families affected by alcoholism report higher levels of conflict than do families with no alcoholism. Drinking is the primary factor in family disruption. The environment of children of alcoholics has been characterized by lack of parenting, poor home management, and lack of family communication skills, thereby effectively robbing children of alcoholic parents of modeling or training on parenting skills or family effectiveness.8 • The following family problems have been frequently associated with families affected by alcoholism: increased family conflict; emotional or physical violence; decreased family cohesion; decreased family organization; increased family isolation; increased family stress including work problems, illness, marital strain and financial problems; and frequent family moves.9 • Addicted parents often lack the ability to provide structure or discipline in family life, but simultaneously expect their children to be competent at a wide variety of tasks earlier than do non-substance-abusing parents.10 • Sons of addicted fathers are the recipients of more detrimental discipline practices from their parents.11 3.  A relationship between parental addiction and child abuse has been documented in a large proportion of child abuse and neglect cases. • Three of four (71.6%) child welfare professionals cite substance abuse as the top cause for the dramatic rise in child maltreatment since 1986.12 • Most welfare professionals (79.6%) report that substance abuse causes or contributes to at least half of all cases of child maltreatment; 39.7% say it is a factor in over 75% of the cases. 13 • In a sample of parents who significantly maltreat their children, alcohol abuse is specifically associated with physical maltreatment, while cocaine exhibits a specific relationship to sexual maltreatment.14 • Children exposed prenatally to illicit drugs are 2 to 3 times more likely to be abused or neglected. 15 4.  Children of drug addicted parents are at higher risk for placement outside the home. • Three of four child welfare professionals (75.7%) say that children of addicted parents are more likely to enter foster care, and 73% say that children of alcoholics stay longer in foster care than do other children.16 • In one study, 79% of adolescent runaways and homeless youth reported alcohol use in the home, 53% reported problem drinking in the home, and 54% reported drug use in the home .17 • Each year, approximately 1 1,900 infants are abandoned at birth or are kept at hospitals, 78% of whom are drug-exposed, the average daily cost for each of these babies is $460.18 5. Children of addicted parents exhibit symptoms of depression and anxiety more than do children from non-addicted families. • Children of addicted parents exhibit depression and depressive symptoms more frequently than do children from non-addicted families.19 • Children of addicted parents are more likely to have anxiety disorders or to show anxiety symptoms.20 • Children of addicted parents are at high risk for elevated rates of psychiatric and psychosocial dysfunction, as well as for alcoholism.21 6. Children of addicted parents experience greater physical and mental health problems and higher health and welfare costs than do children from non-addicted families. • Inpatient admission rates and average length of stay for children of alcoholics were 24% and 29% greater than for children of non-alcoholic parents. Substance abuse and other mental disorders were the most notable conditions among children of addicted parents. 22 • It is estimated that parental substance abuse and addiction are the chief cause in at least 70-90% of all child welfare spending. Using the more conservative 70 percent assessment, in 1998 substance abuse and addiction accounted for approximately $10 billion in federal, state and local government spending simply to maintain child welfare systems.23 • The economic costs associated with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome were estimated at $1.9 billion for ! 992.24 • A sample of children hospitalized for psychiatric disorders demonstrated that more than 50% were children of addicted parents.25 7. Children of addicted parents have a high rate of behavior problems. • One study comparing children of alcoholics (aged 6-1 7 years) with children of psychiatrically healthy medical patients found that children of alcoholics had elevated rates of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) measured against the control group of children.26 • Research on behavioral problems demonstrated by children of alcoholics has revealed some of the following traits: lack of empathy for other persons; decreased social adequacy and interpersonal adaptability; low self-esteem; and lack of control over the environment.27 • Research has shown that children of addicted parents demonstrate behavioral characteristics and a temperament style that predispose them to future maladjustment.28 continued next

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