Literature Review On Child Abuse

Growing up in the household under substances influence can cause severe damage to the child. Parental substance abuse has a significant impact on family function, and it may also contribute to child maltreatment. It heightens the risks to both of the physical and emotional safety of the children, and it generates children’s problematic outcomes. Children who grow up in such families may also experience mental health issues, social isolation, financial difficulties, and exposure to stressful life events and so on.

The use of illicit drugs and abuse of alcohol exact a steep price from our society. Substance abuse is a factor in many serious ills such as crime. More upsetting, however, is the affects that it has on children born affected from their dependent mothers. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that 60 percent of women of childbearing age consume alcoholic beverages despite the fact that alcohol consumption during pregnancy is implicated in a wide range of birth defects and developmental disabilities, including mental retardation, physical abnormalities, and visual and auditory impairments. (Nevitt, 1996)

Research indicates that children exposed to parental substance use are at increased risk for exposure to trauma and neglect (Kandel, 1990), linking with an increased risk for later developing SUDs (Mills, Teesson, Ross, & Peters, 2006 as cited in Khoury et al., 2010). Yet, as previously stated there is little research to show the modifying affects that treatment and recovery can have on the children of substance abusers.

Child abuse is something that is very serious, and happens more often than it should in the world today. According to our class notes social policy is principles that help towards ending many issues. Our main goal in this world should be to make sure that everyone’s well-being is safe as long as we can help it. Especially when it comes to children that have little to no say in certain situations it’s our job as a society to make sure that they are safe, and live in a safe environment.

Substance abuse is a prominent psychiatric disorder that continues to be one of the main complex issues impacting public health today (Hser, Lanza, Li, Kahn, Evans, & Schulte, 2013). Children affected by maternal substance misuse of are at high risk for a wide variety of negative outcomes including: emotional, developmental, social, cognitive, and behavioral issues as well as challenges in academic functioning (Stamler & Yiu, 2012). The main reason these children are at risk is because from conception to throughout their childhood, their environment has been compromised by an accumulation of social determinants of health. These may include poverty, low maternal education, instability of income, poor

One in ten children are born affected by prenatal alcohol or drug exposure (NCSACW). This exposure could have long term effects on their life and wellbeing. There have multiple bills and policies that have been introduced to the government to address these issues. Two bills, in particular, focus on the prevention, treatment, and education on substance exposed infants. The first bill, The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), was reintroduced in 2004 and focuses on the abuse and neglect of children. The second bill, Protecting Our Infants Act of 2015, addresses prevention of prenatal exposure and treatment for opioid using mothers. This paper will be addressing each policy in detail and the outcomes they have on families and children.

In the United States, prenatal substance use continues to be a widespread problem with the addictive substances used during pregnancy; the risk factors, and the long-term effects a baby can have. When a pregnant woman uses drugs, she and her unborn child face serious health problems. Long-term effects of drugs on babies can include behavioral problems as they grow older. They can also be born addicted to the drugs used to treat the mother’s addiction. The task at hand is to make sure that we view all drugs of abuse through a common lens, regardless of legal status, so that their impact on child outcome can be adequately assessed leading to appropriate policy

In 2009, more than eight million children in the United States resided in households where their primary caregiver was dependent on substance use (HHS, 2009). Substance Use disorder (SA) is defined as exhibiting one or more of the four criteria while consuming alcohol or illicit drugs: failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home, situations in which it is physically hazardous, situations persistent substance-related legal problems, social or interpersonal problems caused by or exacerbated by the effects of the substance (American Psychiatric Association, 2005). One out of four children affected by SA will develop psychological, physical, and social health complications, and a tenth

As with most stages of change, relapse is a concern. At Haven Mother’s House, relapse is addressed at each phase and is expected. The women participate in groups and focus on relationships to begin transition to the outside world. Upon completion of the program, mothers learn coping skills, proceed with a life free from substance abuse, and learn parenting techniques (Bromberg, S. R., Backman, T. L.,

Along with illegal behavior often a substance abuser will find themselves as homeless, spending their paychecks on their habits of using substances (Tracy, 2005). Children of abusers are affected by both possessing negative role models that set the example that drug use is not wrong and sometimes the children are placed into the care of the community because of neglect and abuse by the substance user (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Adolescent and School Health [CDC], 2009). Other medical, social, and economic issues also are being experienced from substance abuse and use.

Employment, family and friend are seriously at jeopardy when addiction overshadows and become more important. Family suffer tremendously from the neglected due to a family member plagued with this disease. The constant worry for the person’s welfare causes emotional stress that can break down the family structure. Children are the most venerable when a parent suffers with addiction. Child Protected services state approximately 50% to 80% of all child abuse and neglect cases involve some degree of substance abuse by the child’s parents (NIDA, 2000). Babies born with birth defects due to a mother cocaine use during pregnancy is another unfortunate reality (NIDA, 2000). There are over 45,000 cases of cocaine-exposed babies per

An estimated twenty five percent of youth under eighteen are exposed to familial alcohol abuse (Bellum). The Illinois Department of Human Services says that nearly six hundred seventy five thousand children per year suffer serious abuse or neglect as a direct result of substance abuse (‘Children”). What makes this a big problem in society?

Child Physical Abuse. (2015, September 19). Retrieved October 4, 2015, from http://www.americanhumane.org/children/stop-child-abuse/fact-sheet/child-physical abuse Glaser, D. (1995, October 28). Development after Physical Abuse in Early Childhood. Retrieved October 4, 2015, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/29729341

Substance use and substance abuse is hazard for anyone associated with the issue. However, it is life changing ordeal for children who life decisions are made by individuals who is suffering from either of these problems. Nonetheless, to understand the severity of substance abuse and substance use is to define each issue and the role it plays in a child’s life. Substance use is the use of a substance to achieve a desired effect or intoxication level, a substance taken in larger amount for longer period than attend, and unsuccessful attempts to reduce or control substance use. Substance abuse is use of a problem associated with legal issues such as; physical and sexual abuse, and use of substance to fulfill the loss of a role concerning life work, school, or marriage. There are aspects of substance abuse and substance use that concern a child welfare worker. One aspect is females who is sexually active or pregnant that is at-risk of either of these problems. These children are at-risk of birth defects this is caused by drinking or use of street drugs during pregnancy (“Facts about Birth,” 2014). In addition, to the aspect of specially challenged children who suffer abuse or maltreatment. According to the literature 25% of children who suffer abuse have a special challenge (Harris, Lager, & Mather, 2007). The substance

Child abuse is a serious social problem in the world. Child abuse is defined as physical, emotional, and sexual maltreatment by their parents, caregiver, and other people. The goal of this survey is to gather information about how people are aware of the child abuse in their community and society. My survey had five questions that were a mixture of close-ended and open-ended questions. Questionnaires help to get an appropriate response from the participant. The sample of this survey takes from a random population, such as international students and United States citizens.