Drug Using Families Endanger Children
Children of drug dependent parents are at risk of severe emotional or behavioural problems.
In Australia an estimated 60,000 children have drug dependent parents in treatment which is less than half of the children at risk.
An estimated one in five children had witnessed a parent overdose or die from illicit drug use.
Children had witnessed and been distressed by their parents drug use.
An estimated fifty per cent of most at risk children in the child protection system in Australia had parents that were drug dependent.
The main risks to children are from child abuse or neglect.
Almost half (45 per cent) of children were assessed with severe emotional or behavioural problems.
Two out three children were living with only one parent with only one in twenty living with both parents.
(Source: Nobody's Clients, Odyssey House, 15/12/04 Media Release)
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-
Children are the innocent victims of parental illicit drug use.
The International Narcotics Control Board recognises the risks to children with drug dependent parents which is why it has insisted that Australia must reduce the demand for illicit drugs.
The key drug policy objective in Australia must be to reduce the pool of users of illicit drugs.
Australia must use its courts to divert users into detoxification then rehabilitation to get them drug free.
THE DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA SUPPORTS-
More detoxification & rehabilitation that gets illicit drug users drug free.
Court ordered and supervised detoxification & rehabilitation.
Less illicit drug users, drug pushers and drug related crimes.
2/2005
