Supporting parents with addictions

Understanding the risks associated when parents misuse drugs or alcohol

Living in a household where a parent or carer misuses substances doesn’t mean a child will experience abuse but it is a risk factor. An analysis of 175 serious case reviews from 2011-14 found that 47% of cases featured parental substance misuse.

NSPCC (Sidebottom et al. 2016)

Parents in foster placements may have a known problem with drug or alcohol misuse or this issue may come to light whilst they are in the placement. They may not have disclosed their addiction prior to the placement, fearing this will risk their child being removed or because they are in denial.

Parental drug use is very common for parents within the family justice system; almost two-thirds of drug-using women entering treatment are parents, but only half live with their children. Although parental use of drugs and alcohol often puts children at risk of significant harm, with the right support services, some parents can manage their addiction at the same time as providing good enough parenting. In fact, for some women, pregnancy provides the motivation needed to get help to come off drugs or stabilise drug use.

Heavy drinking can cause physical abnormalities, and problems with growth and learning (fetal alcohol syndrome). See the section on FASD

Problem drug use is associated with low birthweight, premature birth, stillbirth and SIDS, but as most problem drug users are also heavy cigarette smokers, with poor diet and complex social circumstances, so it’s difficult to say whether these effects are to do with drug use or heavy smoking and other issues associated with poverty.

Heroin is the main drug used in pregnancy, but many women use multiple types of drugs and alcohol.

Pregnant women who are addicted to heroin are usually prescribed methadone so that they avoid injecting. Suddenly coming off heroin can be dangerous for the baby, especially towards the end of the pregnancy.

Babies exposed before birth to heroin, methadone and some other drugs can be born with severe withdrawal symptoms. These babies can have feeding problems and cry a lot, making them very difficult to care for and causing problems with bonding and attachment.

A parent may be in the placement to assess their capability to provide good enough parenting. For any parent persistently misusing drugs or alcohol there are some specific risks to children. While we can support parents in a non-judgemental way, we need to recognise these risks.
These include neglect and abuse, dangerously inadequate supervision, inadequate and unstable accommodation, toxic substances in the home and social isolation. An analysis of 175 serious case reviews from 2011-14 found that 47% of cases featured parental substance misuse.
Long-term, children of parents who misuse drugs and alcohol can experience a range of emotional, cognitive, behavioural and other psychological problems and poor educational achievement. They are more at risk of drug and alcohol misuse themselves, poor mental health and abusive relationships – the ‘toxic trio’.
The ability to parent well can be compromised when parents focus on drinking and become less loving, nurturing, consistent or predictable.
It is also important to remember that sleeping in bed with a parent who is affected by alcohol is an important risk factor for SIDS.

Women are often put off services by staff attitudes and lack of co-ordination between, for example, maternity and drug/alcohol services.

As foster carers, a key part of our role is to support parents to access the available services, keep appointments and adjust other aspects of their lifestyle like sleeping and eating patterns. Communicating in a non-judgemental way is an important part of this - acknowledging the problem but always reinforcing that the child’s needs come first.

Looking for helpful links, films and tools for reflection?

Visit the learning zone