Parental addiction has significant effects on children and the parent-child relationship, but there is hope and healing is possible. When a parent is addicted to alcohol or other drugs, their relationships with their children suffer, whatever the ages of the children. Given a chance, school-age children often describe working hard to keep their parent’s secret, trying to take care of their parent, and worrying that they can’t trust their parent to be there when they need them.

 

Even when children don’t use words to describe their experience, their anxiety and lack of trust often show up in sleep difficulties, regression in toileting, weight issues, aggression, difficulty focusing and poor relationships with teachers and peers. Although we sometimes may think that babies or toddlers are too young to know what parents are up to, a parent’s substance use can interfere in major ways with the development of a secure parent-infant attachment and important aspects of brain development in early childhood.

 

This week’s Mom Enough guests represent programs that are making a difference for parents and children of all ages, birth through adolescence. Helene Photias, national director of operations for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s Children’s Program, and Paula Frisk, senior director of zero to five home visiting programs at St. David’s Center for Child & Family Development, join Marti & Erin to discuss keys to helping parents and children move toward healing, build more positive and secure relationships, and create the fun and joy that every child and parent deserves.

 

HAVE YOU OBSERVED THE EFFECTS OF PARENTAL ADDICTION ON PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS?

What have you experienced or observed about parental substance use and its effects on parent-child relationships? Both programs discussed in this podcast focus on relationships. Why do you think that is important rather than just focusing separately on the child or the adult?

 

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ADDICTION & RECOVERY OR SUPPORT SERVICES FOR YOUR FAMILY?

 

❉ ST DAVID'S CENTER FOR CHILD & FAMILY DEVELOPMENT. Nurturing development through early childhood education, intervention and treatment for children with developmental needs, and life-phase services for individuals with enduring special needs.

 

❉ HAZELDEN BETTY FORD FOUNDATION. The nation's largest nonprofit treatment provider, with 17 sites in California, Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois, New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Colorado and Washington. The Foundation offers prevention and recovery solutions nationwide and across the entire continuum of care for youth and adults.

 

❉ WOMEN, ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH: INFORMATION AND PRACTICAL GUIDANCE FROM HAZELDEN BETTY FORD FOUNDATION. In this episode of Mom Enough, Dr. Wicks of Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation discusses unique challenges faced by women dealing with addiction and, more broadly, how to approach a loved one (male or female) you believe has a substance use problem.