If you hurt yourself using drugs or alcohol, that’s bad enough. If you hurt children in your care, that’s a different thing entirely. Children are generally helpless to defend themselves against abuse or neglect by substance abusing caregivers.
Various reports estimate that between 40% and 80% of child maltreatment cases are related to substance abuse. Heartbreaking stories of neglect and abuse can be found in every state in the Union, ranging from children being locked in closets while their parents seek drugs, to the baby who was given cocaine to silence her cries and the infants whose cribs are in the same room as the methamphetamine labs. Also, it’s estimated that a half million babies are born each year who are suffering from prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol.
“Children are some of the most tragic victims of drug and alcohol addiction,” stated Derry Hallmark, Director of Admissions and Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor at Narconon Arrowhead. Narconon Arrowhead is one of the country’s leading drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, located in Canadian, Oklahoma. “When addiction really takes hold, the drug controls the person rather than the person controlling the drug. A deeply addicted person will value their next hit of cocaine or meth or OxyContin more than they value the welfare of their children.”
According to federal agency studies, children whose parents abuse alcohol or drugs are almost three times more likely to be verbally, physically or sexually abused and four times more likely than other children to be neglected. Children of alcoholics are four times more likely to develop alcoholism or other drug problems.
In a survey of former addicts, it was found that the majority of families don’t speak out against addiction during holiday visits because they don’t want to spoil the festivities. This holiday season, if you know someone suffering from substance abuse problems, bring the subject out in the open. Make sure they know how much you care and help them find a rehabilitation program that will help them overcome their addiction. You may never have another chance to save a child from neglect or abuse, or to save the addict from an overdose or accident that can make their next hit or drink a disaster.
“At Narconon, we provide counseling and referrals for people all over the country,” added Mr. Hallmark. “We help families find solutions to addiction every single day.”
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