Substance Abuse: Its Effects on Children and the Family

It is evident that in light of most research on substance abuse, cocaine in particular, can create social as well as health problems for the user and his or her family. The drug can blind the user to the harmful effects, therefore creating a strong desire for increased dosage to the point where the drug runs the user’s life. This leads to stealing and other criminal behavior. This total disregard for self and others creates a problem concerning the children. Life long complications with respect to maternal drug use are a growing problem that needs further study. More research is needed involving the meconium drug testing in terms of detection and maternal use to arm health care facilitators with the knowledge to properly treat and prevent damage to infants. Environmental as well as familial factors influence the behavior patterns of adolescent drug use. A greater focus on positive parenting is needed to promote a positive image for modeling, which is the key to ending the cycle of abuse.

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