Parental substance abuse attributes to conduct disorders and juvenile delinquency /

Abstract

An increase of substance abuse and addiction is sweeping the nation. As a result of this abuse / addiction, children are being abused and neglected. Children are entering foster care at an alarming rate resulting in broken homes and families that were once intact. According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), the number of abused and neglected children has increased from 1.4 million to three million. This research addressed the consequences to children who live in homes where their parent(s) abuse drugs or alcohol. The study was qualitative and quantitative in nature. Closed case files from Mahoning County Children Services in Ohio were reviewed and analyzed. Information was discussed only in the aggregate form to protect the identity of the child and his/her family. The hypothesis derived for this study, after extensive literature review, was that parental substance abuse impacts children negatively in that it contributes to conduct disorders and juvenile delinquency. This study also focuses on whether or not abused and neglected children are angry, antisocial, physically aggressive and possibly violent. Results from the study of case files, dealing with abused and neglected children, revealed that children exhibited poor school attendance, destructive behavior, and physical aggression if their parent(s) are substance abusers.