Parents who misuse drugs may fail to see and meet the needs of their children, so NSPCC has produced two free training resources to try to tackle the issue. Developed with a multi-agency audience in mind - those working in children's social care, health and education and those engaged in adult services - it comes in CD and DVD format.
The CD has 38 exercises divided into sections: awareness, assessment and treatment, and has accompanying material that can be used as appropriate. The DVD includes a trainer guide and is supported by two films.
The Children's Society's project Children and Drugs - a welfare response aimed to identify how substance misuse interacts with the welfare of disabled children, young refugees, children in trouble with the law and children at risk on the streets - surveyed practitioners on their knowledge and practice issues, and support staff were given help to develop their skills and protocols.
The survey found that issues such as responding to children and young people who deal, run and sell drugs, how certain communities and families introduce and normalise the use of drugs, drug prescription to control behaviour, and young people learning that drugs can control or change their mood were critical, as they are not currently being addressed in drug and alcohol policy. Also of concern were the links between drugs and alcohol, young people and coping strategies, the risk of sexual exploitation and the affect of substance misuse on vulnerable groups.
We hope that now these concerns have been highlighted the government will ensure children and young people are better safeguarded in the future.
PARENTAL SUBSTANCE MISUSE
- Parental substance misuse causes serious harm to children at every age from conception to adulthood, according to the report Hidden Harm (2003) from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. It found the needs of children whose parents misuse drugs were often unseen and not met.
- Despite progress in policy and practice since then, the follow-up report Hidden Harm Three Years On (2006) found that the response across the UK had not been consistent. It highlighted the need for large-scale training to equip mainstream children's and adult services to identify and respond appropriately to the needs of children whose parents misuse substances.
