Parental Drug and Alcohol Misuse

When a parent’s or carer’s substance use becomes harmful and prevents them from providing safe care for their children.

Adapted from the NSPCC

Substance use becomes harmful when continued use puts users or others at risk of harm both physical and psychological. Individuals become dependent when they crave substances and continue to use them even if it harms themselves or others. 

According to the NSPCC, more than 70,000 children in England have a parent struggling with alcohol misuse. In 2022/23, Childline received an average of six contacts a day where parent or adult alcohol or substance abuse was mentioned concerning neglect. 

Any child is at risk of abuse and neglect resulting from parental substance misuse, but some families experiencing multiple difficulties are more vulnerable. 

As we know, children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are particularly vulnerable to all forms of abuse and neglect. Children with SEND living in a home with a parent with substance misuse issues are at increased risk of abuse and neglect.

Families in which one or both parents/carers misuse substances are at increased risk of domestic abuse resulting from substance misuse. In other families, adults experiencing domestic abuse may go on to develop substance misuse problems.

Similarly, parents/carers who misuse substances may go on to develop mental health problems, or those with mental health problems may be at increased risk of misusing substances.

Families in which a parent/carer has learning difficulties may be at increased risk of developing substance misuse issues.

Families in which parental substance misuse, domestic abuse and mental health issues are all present are at higher risk.

During pregnancy, drinking and drug use can put unborn babies at risk of birth defects, premature birth, being born underweight and developing withdrawal symptoms. 

Babies and young children are at increased risk due to their dependency on their carers to meet their needs. Furthermore, those with additional care needs such as low birth weight, disability or the impact of maternal substance use whilst pregnant are at increased risk of ongoing harm.

Adolescents who have been living in homes alongside parental substance misuse may start to display behaviours or mental health problems due to long-term exposure. They may also engage in concerning behaviours such as using substances themselves.

Children may have to take on additional caring responsibilities in the home due to their parents’ substance misuse, including caring for the parent and/or siblings.

Children and young people living in homes where there is parental substance misuse can experience:

• abuse or neglect;
• issues with their development;
• psychological harm;
• exposure to criminal activity;
• poor school attendance and poor attainment when in school;
• risks to physical and mental health (including substance ingestion).

As with all forms of abuse, there are indicators and they are very similar to indicators of other forms of abuse. 

Although not an exhaustive list, they include:

• low school attendance/lateness/poor educational performance;
• talk of caring for parents or siblings;
• angry, destructive or concerning behaviours;
• anxious behaviours;
• poor physical presentation;
• intoxicated parents;
• substance misuse by the child.

As with any form of abuse, if you have concerns, speak to your Designated Safeguarding Lead. 

• Check young people have safe relationships – in their family, with their peers and with your staff. Create a culture where it’s okay to talk, even about the most difficult things.
• Know the signs and know what to do – use the checklists above, your safeguarding procedures and be confident to raise parental substance misuse as a possibility.
• Keep a chronology – parental substance misuse may not be apparent from one event but an accumulation of several different concerns and observations. These must be noted at the time to allow the building of a bigger picture of the experiences of the child or young person.
• Multi-agency working – while your primary concern will remain the child's safety, your setting may need to work closely with other agencies to ensure the child and their family are getting the support they need.
• Promote safeguarding - The NSPCC has identified several factors which reduce the impact of parental substance misuse on children:
  • the child being able to ask for help;
  • parents being willing to acknowledge their difficulties and seek help and support;
  • positive relationships between the parent and child;
  • social support being available to the family;
  • the parent and child having good general physical and mental health;
  • having one parent who does not misuse substances;
  • being able to maintain daily routines.
•  Take action – and keep taking action until you know children and young people are safe.