A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics has found that nearly 19 million US children under 18 live with at least one parent struggling with a substance use disorder, significantly higher than previous estimates. The research used data from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
According to the study, 7.6 million of these children have a parent with moderate or severe addiction, while 3.4 million live with multiple substance-use disorders. Furthermore, over 6 million children have a parent dealing with both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition.
The majority of parental substance-use disorders involve alcohol, which is the leading cause of substance-related deaths in the US. Experts warn that exposure to parental addiction can increase children’s risk for physical accidents, mental health conditions, and developing substance use problems themselves.
Pediatricians are urged to be more vigilant in screening families and connecting them to treatment. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine screening for substance use within families, which many clinics now incorporate into developmental screenings.
However, the future of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health is uncertain due to recent budget cuts at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, resulting in the layoff of its entire staff.
Source: https://www.newser.com/story/368631/in-us-1-in-4-kids-has-parent-struggling-with-addiction.html