Families Affected by Substance Abuse

Ashley BeachAnnette Hendry

BACKGROUND

• 8.3 million children live with at least one parent who abused or was dependent on alcohol or an illicit drug during the past year. • These children are at increased risk for abuse or

neglect, as well as physical, academic, social, and emotional problems.

2006-2007 NATIONAL RATES

• In 2006 and 2007, an average of 5.2 percent of pregnant women aged 15 to 44 years used an illicit drug during the month prior to being surveyed, and 11.6 percent had consumed alcohol. • Nationwide, between 550,000 and 750,000

children are born each year after prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol. These children often are medically fragile or born with a low birth weight. Some are born prematurely and require intensive care.

2008-2009 NATIONAL RATES

ALCOHOL

• Alcohol is the only substance that causes defects apparent at birth.

• Children can be born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome resulting in growth problems and behavioral problems. FAS is the most preventable birth defect.

• Alcohol can damage long and short term growth—including negative effects to memory and impulse control mechanism.

TOBACCO/NICOTINE

• Tobacco is the leading cause of low birth weight babies; increasing the risk of developmental problems.

• Undersize babies tend to have underdeveloped bodies. Their lungs may not be ready to work on their own, which means they may spend their first days or weeks attached to a respirator.

• Children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy are especially vulnerable to asthma, and have double or even triple the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

MARIJUANA

• Marijuana crosses the placenta to your baby. Marijuana, like cigarette smoke, contains toxins that keep your baby from getting the proper supply of oxygen that they need to grow.

• Smoking marijuana increases the levels of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the blood, which reduces the oxygen supply to the baby.

• Smoking marijuana during pregnancy can increase the chance of miscarriage, low birth weight, premature births, developmental delays, and behavioral and learning problems.

• This picture shows the parts of the brain in a fetus and adult that can be effected by cannabis.

PREGNANCY

• Women who use alcohol or illicit drugs may find it difficult or impossible to stop, even when they are pregnant. • Pregnancy can be stressful and uncomfortable;

for someone who commonly uses drugs and alcohol to minimize pain or stress, this may not only continue, but also become worse.

INFANT BEHAVIORS AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Infants:‒ Typical behaviors or characteristics are developing

mental and physical skills, and bonding with caretakers. • Infants with FAS/ARND/ARBD:• Problems with spatial and depth perception, muscle

coordination and development, facility with speech, and processing information

• Attention deficit disorder• Inability to focus• Possible attachment disorders

*FAS: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, ARND: Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder, ARBD: Alcohol-Related Birth Defects.

TODDLER BEHAVIORS AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Toddlers:• Develop sense of self• Assert independence by saying "no”.

• Toddlers with FAS/ARND/ARBD:• Difficulty exercising self-control, which leads to

self doubt and feelings of inadequacy.

5-7 YEAR OLD BEHAVIORS AND CHARACTERISTICS

• 5-7 year olds:• Try new things• Meet or exceed academic standards• Learn new social skills

• 5-7 year olds with FAS/ARND/ARBD:• Overwhelmed with new situations and

interactions with other children• Inability to pick up social skills by observation• Problems meeting academic standards

8-7 YEAR OLD BEHAVIORS AND CHARACTERISTICS

• 8-12 year olds:• Increased influence of peers• Games become important method of bonding

and developing interpersonal skills

• 8-12 year olds with FAS/ARND/ARBD:• Difficulty remembering rules of games• Lack of remorse in breaking rules• Become depressed and exhibit other behavior

problems

TEENAGER BEHAVIORS AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Teenagers:• Continued detachment from parents• Development of individual identity• Learn to identify with larger community

• Teenagers with FAS/ARND/ARBD:• May lack skills to become good community

members• Become socially isolated• May find their way to peer groups that engage

in high risk behaviors• May withdraw altogether from groups

SOURCES

• Pontius, Kate. Is Low Birthweight a Real Issue. 2012. Interactive HealthWeb. 28 Nov 2012. <http://iahealth.net/is-low-birth-weight-a-real-health-issue/>.

• Quick FASD Facts. 2007. FastecWeb. 28 Nov 2012. <http://www.starflashdesign.com/fastec/FASTECinfo.html>.

• Gillis, Neal. New Hope of Treatment of recurrent miscarriage. 2011. University of CambridgeWeb. 28 Nov 2012. <http://www.enterprise.cam.ac.uk/news/2011/4/new-hope-treatment-recurrent-miscarriage/>.