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Substance Abuse
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Causes & Risk Factors: Substance Abuse
Substance abuse in the United States
Alcohol and drug addiction are widespread in the United States. In 1996 almost 14 million Americans were estimated to abuse alcohol, while the number of illicit drug users was estimated to exceed 12 million. In 1998 an estimated 11 percent of children in the U.S. lived in households where at least one parent is either an alcoholic or in need of substance abuse treatment.

Substance abuse hurts children
Children of substance or alcohol abusing parents are almost three times more likely to be abused and four times more likely to be neglected than children of non-substance abusing parents. Substance abuse contributes to 7 out of 10 cases of child maltreatment. The risk to children increases in single parent households, where there is no supporting adult to diffuse parental stress and protect the child from the effects of the parent's substance abuse. Children under the age of five are the most vulnerable to abuse or neglect by a substance-abusing parent and represent the fastest growing population in out-of-home care.

Substance abuse and the child welfare system
Children from substance-abusing families are more likely to be placed in foster care (54 percent versus 23 percent). These children spend longer periods of time in foster care than other foster children. Within the child welfare system, the percentage of children under the age of four who were exposed to drugs while in utero increased from 29 percent in 1986 to 62 percent in 1991. Nearly 80 percent of foster children are at risk for a wide range of physical and developmental health problems related to prenatal exposure to maternal substance abuse. Substance abuse accounts for nearly $10 billion in federal, state, and local government spending for child welfare systems.



February 24, 2009 | 2:06 AM Comments  0 comments

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General Causes & Risk Factors for Child Abuse
About this event: VOICE OF THE YOUTH TV
Related to country: Philippines

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

All of the causes of child abuse are not known, but a significant amount of research points to several factors that put children at risk for abuse. There are many reasons why some people have difficulty meeting the demands of parenthood, including:

immaturity and unrealistic expectations
unmet emotional needs
the stresses of child care
economic crisis
domestic violence
lack of parenting knowledge
difficulty in relationships
depression or other mental health problems
drug or alcohol problems
When these circumstances combine with the challenges of child rearing, parents who are otherwise well intentioned can harm or neglect their children.

Child abuse and neglect cross all ethnic, social and economic lines. Most instances of child abuse are not caused by inherently violent or evil people, but by parents who are unable to cope with their tempers in a time of crisis.

The best way to prevent child abuse and neglect is to support families and provide parents with the skills and resources they need to be effective caregivers.


February 24, 2009 | 1:46 AM Comments  0 comments





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