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Drug addiction and children

One of the most distressing situations when it comes to drug addiction is when it also affects the life of children.  Addiction during pregnancy and while caring for children can be very difficult and turn make what should be a beautiful and rewarding time, into a nightmare, both for the parents and for the children involved. 

Efforts to encourage pregnant women, and addicted parents to seek treatment can often be fruitless as motivating such individuals can be difficult due to their ambivalence towards parenting and their children.  A recent study found that women who were expecting a child, and also had a drug addiction exhibited a large degree of ambivalence towards the idea of their pregnancy and to parenting in general (da Silva et al., 2012).  It appears that this lack of interest in their children often leads to not seeking treatment for their addiction, despite the risks it places on their offspring.  It appears, therefore, that although it could be assumed that the prospect of a child would be one of the biggest motivators to seek help, the impact of addiction means that this joyous occasion is blunted by the effects that drugs have on a person's emotions and their overall mental health.

This can often mean that women who suffer or have suffered from addiction and have children often 'go through the motions' of caring for a child, without really feeling the emotions attached to the experience, and this can be very damaging to both the mother and the child. 

However, the research conducted by da Silva et al., (2012) did find a small silver lining, in that good levels of social support can have a positive effect on these issues, and this is especially true if the support is coming from the partner of the women.  It appears that when encouraged by their partners, women are more willing to embrace parenthood, and attempt to build a bond with their child. 

These findings suggest that in order to help mothers suffering from addiction, it is important that they have adequate social support.  This may be something they receive initially at a rehab center and then receive in their own lives., or it may be that they first receive support at home from their partner, and this then encourages them to access treatment as a result.  No matter the way in which it occurs, it does show how important social support is to the process, and it could have a positive impact on both the parents and the children involved.

Da Silva, et al.  (2012).  Balancing Motherhood and Drug Addiction. the Transition to Parenthood of Addicted Mothers.  Journal of Health Psychology.

Published by on 27/06/2020.

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