The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today released new materials to help substance abuse treatment professionals design programs to help children of addicted parents cope with the effects of their parents' addiction.

SAMHSA estimates that about 6 million children under age 18 were living with at least one parent who abused or was dependent on alcohol or drugs in 2001, based on a new analysis of the data in the agency's 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse.

To encourage more programs and services to help these children, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson is sending a letter to every substance abuse treatment facility in the country, urging them to use SAMHSA's new Children's Program Kit to develop appropriate programs.

"We must not allow our children to become the forgotten victims of substance abuse," Secretary Thompson said. "By providing appropriate services and programs, we have the power to reduce the fear and confusion that they experience and to provide the knowledge and skills that they need to rebound and succeed as they mature into adults."

The kit was developed by SAMHSA childhood mental health professionals and covers a wide variety of topics and practical teaching strategies for elementary, middle and upper school children, including stories and videos. The kit also contains information for therapists to distribute to their clients to help parents understand the needs of their children, as well as training materials for substance abuse treatment staff who plan to offer support groups for children.

"Too often when we concentrate on providing treatment for the affected adult we forget the heavy burden that substance abuse lays on the children of those in treatment," said SAMHSA Administrator Charles G. Curie. "Often when the needs of the children are ignored, these children grow into substance-abusing adults. The SAMHSA tool kit addresses the needs of these children, so they can grow into healthy adults with the necessary skills to break the intergenerational cycle of addiction."

SAMHSA's new report, "Children Living with Substance-Abusing or Substance-Dependent Parents," shows that 9 percent of children lived with at least one parent who abused or was dependent on alcohol or an illicit drug during the past year. Of these 6 million children, more than 4 million lived with parents who abused or were dependent on alcohol; almost 1 million lived with a parent who abused or was dependent on an illicit drug; and more than 0.5 million had a parent who abused or was dependent on both alcohol and an illicit drug.

According to the SAMHSA report, 10 percent of children aged 5 or younger, almost 8 per cent of children aged 6-11, and over 9 percent of youths aged 12-17 lived with at least one parent who abused or was dependent on alcohol or drugs.

The toolkit is designed to provide materials for substance abuse programs so that they can initiate educational support programs for the children of their clients in substance abuse treatment. The curricula will teach children skills such as solving problems, coping, social competence, autonomy and a sense of purpose and future.

The toolkit has activities for children in elementary school, in middle school and high school, as well as activities that are suitable for all ages. It includes stories and videos. It also contains information for therapists to distribute to their clients to help parents understand the needs of their children, and training materials for substance abuse treatment staff who plan to offer support groups for children.

Toolkits can be ordered by calling 1-800-729-6686 or by faxing a request to 301-468-6433.

SAMHSA, a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the lead federal agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention addiction treatment and mental health services in the United States.