Can Parents Who Abuse Drugs and Alcohol Be Good Enough Parents - Essay Example

Can Parents Who Abuse Drugs and Alcohol be Good Enough Parents? Introduction Being a parent, for most people, can be the most fulfilling and the most important responsibility they can take on. It is a responsibility which is often wrought with various challenges which can daunt any person. And yet, most parents are known to try to be the best parent they can be. For parents who abuse drugs and alcohol, the challenge is an even bigger one. Their substance abuse problems can often affect their behaviour as parents and their parenting skills in general. In instances when they are ‘high’ or drunk, they may manifest behaviour which would indicate that they are not good enough parents at all. In 2006, a study revealed that about 5% of all adults in the UK are alcohol-dependent with one out of 24 parents drinking heavily; these figures put about one million children living with alcoholic parents (In the news, 2006). The Institute of Alcohol Studies (2009) also revealed in their latest statistics that 22.1% of children in the UK are living with alcoholic parents; and about 8% of children in the UK are living with parents who are drug abusers. Moreover, 3.6% of children live with parents who are both alcohol and drug abusers (Institute of Alcohol Studies, 2009). In other words, these children are put at risk of being exposed to neglectful and abusive parents. Alcohol abuse and substance abuse potentially affect entire families and these are also habits which, if not stopped, are often passed on from generation to generation (In the News, 2006). With the above considerations, this paper shall now answer the question: can parents who abuse drugs and alcohol be good enough parents? This discussion shall use relevant literature, theoretical frameworks and research findings in order to come up with a thorough and critical understanding of the subject matter. Various studies and researches shall be evaluated in relation to this subject matter, analysing them for validity and credibility. Discussion Drugs and alcohol have different effects on different people. Shaw points out succinctly that “the good and bad effects of alcohol lie in complex psychological and sociological continua...Concepts of use and abuse have therefore been open to equally wide interpretations” (Shaw, 1978, p. 41). The effects of drugs and alcohol largely depend on a person’s physiology and sociology. Indeed, the adage, “being able to handle one’s drink” is appropriate in determining the effect of alcohol on a person. Some people may be able to handle their drink well, and others, not at all. Nevertheless, physiologically speaking, alcohol does have an effect on a person. Firstly, ethyl alcohol is the more formal and technical name for alcohol, and it is actually the “intoxicating element in fermented and distilled liquors” (Coon & Mitterer, 2010, p. 207). Most people believe that alcohol is a stimulant; however, it is actually a depressant. Studies reveal that smaller amounts of alcohol reduce inhibitions and increase feelings of euphoria and relaxation (Coon & Mitterer, 2010). When larger amounts of alcohol are taken in, it impairs the brain and brain function up to a point when the drinker actually loses consciousness. Alcohol also tends to dull a person’s mind, making him short-sighted or myopic in his thoughts. In these instances, what would only come into the drinker’s mind are the most immediate things that he sees or hears. Their worries and sensibilities which would normally control their behaviour disappear. “That’s why many behaviours become more extreme when a person is drunk” (Coon & Mitterer, p. 207, 2010). Ergo, many drinkers often get into fights, have accidents, commit sexual assaults, destroy property, and even participate in risky sexual behaviour. Drugs on the other hand also produce various effects on a person depending on the length of a person’s use. Some of its more common effects include paranoia, hallucinations, memory loss, violent and aggressive behaviour, and mood disturbances (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2008). These types of behaviour from alcohol and drug abusers can sometimes manifest in the abuser’s family. Although, admittedly, not all alcoholics or drug abusers take out their violent or aggressive behaviour on their families, incidents of abuse among families often involve drug and/or alcohol intoxication. What makes a good parent good is a matter filled with various personal and psychological overtones. While some people might say that a good parent is one who provides all his family’s financial needs, others claim that a good parent is someone who provides for his family’s emotional, psychological, and even spiritual needs. And still some others claim that a good parent is also one who does not physically and psychologically abuse his children. In applying these ideas to the current discussion, we now ask whether or not a parent who is an alcohol and drug abuser can still be considered a good parent. In a paper by Kelleher, Chafer, Hollenberg, and Fischer (1994), the authors sought to compare the frequency of substance use disorders and symptoms between adults reporting child physical abuse and individual-matched control subjects in a community sample. The study covered 11,662 individuals from four communities individually matched with control subjects from participants. The study revealed that the respondents who reported physical abuse or neglect of children were also more likely to report substance abuse or dependence (Kelleher, Chafer, Hollenberg, & Fischer, 1994). The paper concluded that “parental substance abuse and dependence, independent of confounding factors, are highly associated with child maltreatment” (Kelleher, Chafer, Hollenberg, & Fischer, 1994). In a sharper and unfortunate twist of fate, alcohol abuse in parents is also more likely to lead to their children abusing alcohol themselves (Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service, 2008). These children also have a high risk of developing health and behavioural problems in their later years depending on how well they cope with their problems. Some cope well with their problems and do not see the need to resort to alcohol or drug-seeking behaviour; however, others find it hard to cope with their problems, and follow the patterns of behaviour they have seen in their parents (Children, Youth, Women’s Health Service, 2008). In a paper by Sher, Gershuny, Peterson, and Raskin (1997, p. 414), the authors discuss that “growing up in an alcoholic family is highly related to one’s later development of alcohol abuse”. The child’s environment growing up affects the way the child later copes with his personal issues in his teenage and his adult years. Studies reveal that the constant disruptions of a family’s rituals in the child’s alcoholic home increase the risk that the child would have a disturbed psyche. These studies point out that the chronic strains and low family cohesion created by the alcohol and drug abuse has negative effects on intrafamiliar relationships and on the family milieu (Sher, Gershuny, Peterson, & Raskin, 1997). Studies also associate parental alcoholism with several dysfunctional family patterns like high family conflict, poor parental functioning, high marital stress, and higher divorce rates. Studies also cite child abuse (emotional, physical, and sexual) and neglect as some of the conditions that children of alcoholics and drug abusers are exposed to (Sher, Gershuny, Peterson, & Raskin, 1997). Studies were able to reveal that a relationship between alcoholism and child abuse and the link between these two variables have not been fully and clearly explained. In some parents, alcoholism may also cause them to have reduced supervision over their child, leaving the child liable to harm and victimization from other sources, not necessarily the alcoholic parent (Sher, Gershuny, Peterson, & Raskin, 1997). Neglect and abandonment are also some of the effects of alcoholic and substance abuse parents on children. An investigation which sought to assess the occurrence of violence experienced by women as children and as adults was conducted; such study also sought to evaluate whether those who reported a past history of violence or abuse were more likely to neglect or abandon their children to the care of others (Regan, Ehrlich, & Finnegan, 2003). This study covered 178 drug dependent women and 70 drug-free women. Based on results, the study clearly showed that among women who had a history of abuse and violence, the probability of these parents neglecting their children or having their children placed in foster care was high. This clearly shows that alcoholic behaviour can indeed lead to bad parenting. The child’s life and well-being is put in danger and he is deprived of the loving care and attention he is supposed to be entitled to. Another study was conducted in order to assess the relationship between parental history of substance use and abuse potential, the authors administered the Child Abuse Potential Inventory (CAPI) on fathers and mothers of 10-12 year old boys (who had a history of substance abuse (Ammerman, Kolkoc, Kiriscic, Blacksond, & Dawes, 1999). The study revealed that parents who registered with a history of substance abuse had higher CAPI scores as compared to parents without any history of abuse. The results of the study also revealed that fathers and mothers who had partners with a history of substance abuse disorders were likely to have higher scores in the CAPI even if they themselves did not have a history of substance abuse. The study concluded that a history of abuse in parents also increased their abuse potential. Those who had higher abuse potentials were different in fathers and mothers, emphasizing the importance of assessing parents separately in cases of child maltreatment (Ammerman, Kolkoc, Kiriscic, Blacksond, & Dawes, 1999). This study indicates a cycle of abuse among substance abusers. Alcoholic parents have a high probability of abusing their children, and of eventually passing on such habits and abusive behaviour to their children. Alcoholism and drug addiction potentially creates bad parents and children who end up being bad and abusive parents themselves. A discussion by the University of Miami Counselling Center (1998) sums it all clearly when it enumerated the various effects of parents with alcohol and substance abuse problems on children and how these effects make such parents ‘bad parents’. Firstly, parents who are alcohol and substance abusers have trouble in finishing projects, in keeping their promises, and in carrying out their ideas. Consequently, they set a bad example to their children who end up not knowing how to make things in their life happen (University of Miami Counselling Center, 1998). Secondly, these parents also lie. These parents are in denial about their problem and in order to conceal their problem, they tell more lies. As a result, children of alcoholics feel caught up in the web of lies that surrounds their lives (University of Miami Counselling Center, 1998). Thirdly, children of alcoholics and substance abusers tend to judge themselves harshly. It is a habit that has been a part of their personality since their childhood. Some of them feel that their parents’ substance abuse is somehow their fault and that if they were never born; things would have been different for their parents. Finally, they also find it hard to have fun as they often take themselves too seriously. They also end up taking on so many responsibilities in their homes and they hardly experience being children because they often end up taking care of themselves (University of Miami Counselling Center, 1998). In their adult years, these children also end up having difficulty in their relationships because they do not have a good example of how to have healthy and intimate relationships. The University of Miami Counselling Center, 1998) also points out that children of alcoholics often end up marrying alcoholics and sometimes perpetuating the cycle of raising more children of alcoholics. Considering the above points, we can deduce that most alcoholic and drug abusive parents cannot be good parents. There are too many examples of behaviour which fails to support a conclusion to the contrary. In the end, these parents, no matter how abusive or non-abusive they are on their children, still end up impacting negatively on the lives of their children. And their impact most definitely makes them bad parents. Works Cited Ammerman, R., Kolkoc, D., Kiriscic, L., Blacksond, T., & Dawes, M. (1999) Child abuse potential in parents with histories of substance use disorder. Child Abuse and Neglect, volume 23, number 12, pp. 1225-1238 Coon, D. & Mitterer, J. (2010) Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior. London: Cengage Learning Kelleher, K., Chaffin, M., Hollenberg, J., & Fischer, E. (1994) Alcohol and drug disorders among physically abusive and neglectful parents in a community-based sample. American Journal of Public Health, volume 84, number 10, pp. 1586-1590 Nearly 4m suffering from alcoholic parents (04 September 2006) In the News. Retrieved 04 February 2010 from http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/health/-nearly-4m-suffering-from-alcoholic-parents-$449320.htm Parents on drugs (14 August 2008) Children, Youth, and Women’s Health Service. Retrieved 04 February 2010 from http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=305&id=1587 Numbers of Children of Substance abusing parents (2007) Institute of Alcohol Studies. Retrieved 04 February 2010 from http://www.ias.org.uk/resources/publications/alcoholalert/alert200903/al200903_p20a.html Regan, D., Ehrlich, S., & Finnegan, L. (2003) Infants of drug addicts: At risk for child abuse, neglect, and placement in foster care. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, volume 9, issue 4, pp. 315-319. Research Report Series - Methamphetamine Abuse and Addiction: How is methamphetamine abused? (22 July 2008) National Institute of Drug Abuse. 04 February 2010 from http://www.drugabuse.gov/Researchreports/Methamph/methamph3.html Shaw, S. (1978) Responding to drinking problems. London: Taylor and Francis Publishers Sher, K., Gershuny, B., Peterson, L., & Raskin, G. (1997) The Role of Childhood Stressors in the Intergenerational Transmission of Alcohol Use Disorders. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, volume 58, issue 4, The Legacy of an Alcoholic Parent (1998) University of Miami The Counselling Center. Retrieved 04 February 2010 from http://www6.miami.edu/counseling-center/pdfs/family_and_home/legacy_of_alcohol.pdf Read More