A groundbreaking study published in JAMA Pediatrics reveals that nearly 19 million children in the United States, under the age of 18, are living with at least one parent who has a substance use disorder. This alarming statistic translates to roughly 1 in 4 children, which significantly exceeds previous estimates that were based on outdated diagnostic criteria. The research utilized data from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, as reported by NPR.
Of the 19 million children identified in the study, approximately 7.6 million have a parent struggling with a moderate or severe addiction. Furthermore, around 3.4 million children are living with a parent who is battling multiple substance use disorders. The study also highlights that over 6 million children have parents who are coping with both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition.
According to Dr. Scott Hadland, the chief of adolescent medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, the majority of the parental substance use disorders identified in the study involve alcohol. This finding is particularly concerning as alcohol remains the leading cause of substance-related deaths in the United States. The implications of this research underscore the urgent need for intervention and support systems for families affected by parental addiction.
Experts warn that children exposed to parental addiction face heightened risks for a variety of issues, including physical accidents, mental health conditions, and an increased likelihood of developing their own substance use problems in the future. The barriers to accessing care—such as stigma surrounding addiction—often prevent many parents from seeking necessary treatment, further exacerbating the situation.
Given these findings, Dr. Hadland emphasizes the critical role pediatricians play in screening families for substance use disorders and connecting them to appropriate treatment options. The American Academy of Pediatrics advocates for routine screening of substance use within families, and many clinics are now incorporating questions about parental substance use into their developmental screenings.
As for the future of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, its continuity is uncertain following significant workforce reductions. In April, the survey's entire staff was laid off due to budget cuts at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The potential impact of this reduction on future research and data collection is yet to be determined.
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