Children Living with Substance Using Parents/Carers
Last updated: December 1, 2008
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
Not all families affected by drug and/or alcohol use will experience difficulties, although research indicates that parental drug and/or alcohol use can have significant, damaging, and long lasting consequences for children. The children of such parents are entitled to help, support and protection within their own families wherever possible.
Parental drug and/or alcohol use, per se, should not be taken as an indication of the need for action under child protection procedures. Neither should it prevent them from seeking advice and support from appropriate services through fear of unwarranted intrusion from child protection agencies.
Drug and/or alcohol using parents are entitled to expect that they will be treated in just the same way as other parents whose personal circumstances lead them to seek help. However, such parents need professionals to take responsibility for their children’s welfare when they are no longer in a position to care for them adequately. This may mean intervening against their wishes.
The individual requirements of children, parents, and families should be considered and addressed through the provision of accessible, flexible, non-judgemental and appropriate services.
Assessments must focus on the needs of children and their parents’ and carers’ ability to provide for them. Each family should be assessed individually.
Inter-agency communication and co-ordination is essential in protecting children from harm and consultation between staff from specialist drug and/or alcohol and child protection services should routinely occur as part of good practice.
