Humanities 1

Parental Substance Abuse and its Damaging Effects on Children

In 1943, philosopher, Abraham Maslow divided the needs of humans into a hierarchy,

represented as a pyramid, with the most fundamental needs on the bottom. There, he posed that

physiological needs, such as food and water necessary for body survival, are the most important.

Above physiological needs, Maslow includes in ascending order, safety, love/belonging, esteem,

and self actualization (Maslow). Failure to pass the first plane ultimately means the human

fails to thrive. Following the meeting of physical needs, one must then feel secure and safe, as in

personal safety, financial safety, health and well-being, and protection against outside forces. At

this point, a healthy person displays a need for love and belonging, such as that found through

friendship, intimacy, and family. Continuing up the pyramid, a human yearns for esteem which

provides him/her with a sense of value and ability to contribute to society. Finally self-

actualization and self-transcendence make up the last portion of Maslows hierarchy. This level

of need refers to the realization, and meeting, of ones full potential (Maslow). Ultimately, all

aspects of this hierarchy interrelate and play a role in a childs life when parental substance abuse

occurs. According to Maslows humanistic theory, it is near impossible to reach full potential

without all the basic needs being met. In cases of child maltreatment the needs of the child

become disrupted causing a delay. Maltreated children born of substance abusing parents are

more likely to have poorer physical, behavioral, psychological and emotional, along with

intellectual and social outcomes.

To have a better understanding of parental substance abuse, one must understand what

substance abuse is. Substance abuse, also known as substance disorder (SUD), is the

overindulgence in, or dependence on, an addictive substance, such as drugs and/or alcohol. When

one or more parental figures raising a child or children suffer from SUD, then the situation is
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classified as parental substance abuse. Statistics show more than eight million children, younger

than age eighteen, live with at least one adult who has a SUD (Parental Substance Abuse). This

statistic equates to more than one in ten children. Crack/cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin,

marijuana, and alcohol used by parents, fuel the cases of battered and neglected children. Studies

show that child maltreatment cases are related to the use of these substances. Parental SUD

affects the entire family unit posing a great impact on todays youth and the explosion of

adolescent substance abuse seen today (No Safe Haven). Sadly, many are not aware of the

increasing number of cases involving parental figures abusing substances. These cases are

extremely detrimental to the well being of everyone in the home.

In a home where one or more parents are suffering from a SUD, the second tier in

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, can be jeopardized. As stated above, this level of the pyramid

pertains to safety and security, which is one of the most fundamental needs. A child born to

substance abusing parents cannot surpass this need. Drug use by the parent automatically

endangers the safety and security of a child. However, the safety and security of a child can be

compromised even in the prenatal stages. A serious condition called Neonatal Abstinence

Syndrome (NAS) is a group of problems that occur in a newborn who was exposed to addictive

illegal or prescription drugs while in the mother's womb and this syndrome results in symptoms

oftentimes, life-threatening (Hamdan). NAS starts off as being a prenatal issue but the

symptoms carry on after the baby is born. Some issues presented at birth that are in direct

correlation with NAS are blotchy skin color, hyperactive reflexes, tremors, and seizures

(Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome). These symptoms may range from being minor to life-

threatening but either way NAS should not be taken lightly. Another serious syndrome resulting

in the endangerment of a child called Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or (FAS) puts the child's well-
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being at risk and may cause physical problems. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is caused while the fetus

is still in utero, but the lasting symptoms are present post birth. Children born with FAS are

oftentimes plagued by birth defects. Substance abuse during pregnancy may result in birth

defects such as growth deficiency, craniofacial abnormalities, central nervous system damage

(CNS), along with structural abnormalities of the brain (Ornoy). Lasting defects such as the ones

named above take serious tolls on the safety and security of a child. Selfishly, the parent is

adversely imposing a delay in a child successfully moving from the second plane on Maslows

pyramid to the third plane.

By using various drugs of choice, the parent can cause diverse physical effects on the

child. For instance, opioid abuse, one of the most prominent addictions in SUD, involves the use

of heroin, morphine, and/or prescription pain relievers. Parents with an opioid addiction

especially while pregnant, tend to give birth to children suffering from serious physical

problems. According to statistics,the abuse of heroin or other opiates during pregnancy is

associated with a 600 percent increase in prenatal obstetric complications (Opiates and

Pregnancy). Complications such as low birth weights and a greater risk of sudden infant death

syndrome (SIDS) are also common. At birth, newborns are given a score from one to ten on the

Apgar scale, a scale used to measure the physical condition of an infant. Normally a healthy

infant scores closer to ten, however infants born to opioid addicted mothers tend to score from

one to five. A score lower than five is relatively low and informs the caretakers that there is

something wrong (The Apgar Score). Therefore, opioid abuse can cause major physical defects

and leads to an unhealthy child.

Another class of drugs with a high rate of abuse are called stimulants which include

crack/cocaine, and methamphetamines. These drugs increase alertness, attention and energy as
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well as elevate blood pressure, heart rate and respiration (What are Stimulants). Mothers

addicted to stimulants leave tolling impacts on newborns. Studies contain more logged

information in regards to the abuse of crack and cocaine and their effects on children than info on

methamphetamines. On average around 750,000 crack/cocaine exposed pregnancies are logged

annually. Infants suffering from exposure to crack cocaine have lower birth weights, smaller

head circumferences and are shorter in length ( Effects of Maternal Cocaine Use). More

serious problems may arise from maternal crack/cocaine use and can lead to death of both the

infant and mother. Stimulants also pertain to methamphetamines. While there is not as much

gathered information on the physical effects of methamphetamines of infants, the current results

are still poor. To add to the already terrifying effects of methamphetamines, clefting, cardiac

anomalies, and fetal growth reduction have been described in infants exposed to amphetamines

during pregnancy (Prenatal Methamphetamine Exposure). There are vast physical defects

linked to parental substance abuse. Each drug of choice leads to a whole array of problems that

not only affect the physical health of the parents, but also put the children in severe danger.

Maltreated children in cases where a parent abuses substances, are likely to suffer

physically. Oftentimes, physical problems are linked to an actual cause but in these instances,

there is a strong likelihood that he/she will experience psychosomatic illnesses. These children

may complain constantly about aches or pains, and not feeling well. By definition a

psychosomatic illness is a situation in which the mind influences the body to create or

complicate an illness (Kenny). This psychosomatic disorder is greatly affected by the

mindstate of the ill. If placed under certain amounts of stress, the mind can send signals to the

body telling it to act up, which will bring on those aches and pains. Substance abuse is known

to have a direct correlation to stress and family problems. Seeing as though there tends to be
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more stress in these homes the children born to parents suffering from SA can develop these

psychosomatic illnesses.

Drug abuse results in acute natural consequences. These natural consequences can

include a higher risk of contracting infectious and harmful diseases. The risk is much higher due

to a lowered immune system and the fact that people using illegal substances, often engage in

risky behaviors. For example, sharing dirty needles can result in diseases that last a lifetime

(Risk of Disease with Drugs). Other consequences can include sexually transmitted diseases

(STDS), human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS), and

blood borne viruses may be contracted (Risk of Disease). While some of the contracted

diseases may be treatable, some can prove fatal. Even worse, a mother can potentially pass on an

infectious disease at her childs birth, adversely putting the child at risk.

Not only are children affected physically by parental substance abuse, but behavioral

problems also occur. Behavior or conduct disorders are apparent in children born to substance

abusing parents: these behaviors can consist of temper tantrums, emotional outbursts, no control

of behavior, aggression, stealing and lying (Capaldi). In regards to a parent abusing

methamphetamines while pregnant, the infant can develop prenatal methamphetamine exposure

or (PME). In some of the latest findings, children exposed to methamphetamines were less able

to sustain attention and more prone to act out aggressively or destructively than were non

exposed children (Prenatal Methamphetamine Exposure). Some children may develop

behavioral disorders where he or she demonstrates aggression, violence, and/or rage. Research

shows that children raised in a substance abusing house may predispose one to violence, crime,

and other behavioral problems by age 18 (NIH: Alcohol Alert). Some children develop

attention seeking behaviors and will do anything to receive attention whether the attention is
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positive or negative. These behaviors can range from being a minor issue to causing large scale

crisis. Any child in a neglected home such as a home where parental figures are using should be

afforded professional help.

To continue, a child may develop regressive behavior which is heightened during

stressful or traumatic times. Regressive behavior is a stage in which a child displays behavior

that is younger than the child is developmentally. This type of behavior includes thumb sucking,

bed wetting, and infantile actions (Regressive Behavior). Parents who use inadvertently bring

these regressive behaviors among others to light in children.

Children raised in a home with a substance abuser are at risk of intellectual and social

setbacks. Homes in which children are raised with substance abusing parents are typically

classified as neglectful and disorderly. Statistics show that children are more than 4 times

likelier to be neglected by their parents compared to children of parents who are not substance

abusers(No Safe Haven). Living in a distorted home environment is bound to have negative

effects on the social life of a child. The social norms taught in stable lifestyles are not always

taught to the children raised in a chaotic home. Inhibitions of the parental figures are diminished

from the use of drugs and other substances and they cannot correctly pass on a proper way of

life. A faulty home environment and a lowered socio-economic status leave fewer opportunities

for a child to excel in life, hence where the intellectual issues come into play. With the socio-

economic perspective, a child in such conditions does not have the capabilities as some others in

attending certain facilities to expand learning. However, the intellectual abilities of children born

to substance abusing parents are also hindered by the physical effects their parents drug use had

on their developing brain as a fetus. As these children grow older, they usually experience

difficulties in learning, attention, memory and problem solving. As such, parental substance
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abuse, along with the lingering effects it has, leads to predicaments involving the intellectual

development and social norms of a child.

There are various points of view regarding parental substance abuse and the effects on

children. Many agree that SUD affects the child in a negative manner while others may blame

outside forces for the issues presented. Some of these outside forces people choose to blame for

the effects of SUD can be cases of abuse whether it be physical, sexual, or emotional. Others will

blame domestic violence, neglect, economic and/or social problems. However, the

overindulgence in illegal substances is a growing epidemic throughout the world, especially the

United States. Addicts not only ruin their own lives but endanger the lives of children in

involving the use of drugs in a home life. Parental substance abuse sets up a child for failure. It is

common to see that the people in these conditions are very low on Maslows Hierarchy of Needs,

for one cannot excel until the first need is met.