Parental drug use

Parental substance misuse can have serious negative affects on children and young people from as early as conception through to adulthood. This is a group often in need of protection, and whose particular needs are frequently overlooked.

The drug strategy

In February 2008, the Government published a new national ten-year drug strategy, prioritising families for the first time, and outlining actions to reduce the harm that children experience from either their own or their parents' use of drugs, alcohol and volatile substances (glue, gas, solvents, etc.). These include the following.

Taking a long-term view of prevention by intervening early with families at risk, improving treatment for parents with drug problems and protecting their children during and after the treatment period.
Improving drugs education and strengthening the role of schools and children's services in identifying problems and intervening earlier.
Integrating substance-misuse issues within mainstream children's services and targeted youth support, improving access to positive activities and ensuring effective specialist treatment for under-18s.

Hidden harm

In March 2005, the DfES published the Government's response to Hidden harm: An inquiry by the Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs that contained 48 recommendations to address the effect of parental drug misuse on children. The report contains six main messages outlining the main issues.

An estimate that there are between 250,000 and 350,000 children of problem drug users in the UK — about one for every problem drug user.
Parental drug use can, and does, cause serious harm to children at every stage, from conception to adulthood.
Reducing the harm to children from parental problem drug use should become a main objective of policy and practice.
Effective treatment of the parent can have major benefits for the child.
By working together, services can take many practical steps to protect and improve the health and well-being of affected children.
The number of affected children is only likely to decrease when the number of problem drug users decreases.

With each recommendation requiring action across Government, the report outlines which Government departments have lead responsibility.

The Hidden harm report and the Government's response are available from the 'Substance misuse: practitioner guidance and resources' page of the Every Child Matters website.

Last updated: 14 September 2009