NCJ Number
208046
Date Published
2004
Length
0 pages
Annotation
In this video, staff from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services discuss the impact on children of having an alcohol or drug-addicted parent, followed by a description of the purpose and content of The Children's Program Kit, which has been produced by the SAMHSA as a resource for helping children deal constructively with parental addiction.
Abstract
In answering questions from the host about the impact on children of having an addicted parent, the experts on the panel note that the instability and unpredictability of parental behavior under the influence of alcohol or drugs produce confusion and anxiety in children, as well as a tendency for children to believe that the parent's behavior and attitudes are reactions to the child's personality or behavior. The children thus have no stable frame of reference for viewing themselves and what the parent expects of them. These feelings and reactions can in turn contribute to poor school performance and can impair healthy psychological development into adulthood. The Children's Program Kit described by the SAMHSA personnel is designed to help children understand and deal constructively with parental addiction and its effects on the family. The Kit, which consists of lessons and exercises, is intended for use by treatment providers, schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, religious groups, and other organizations concerned with youth development.