requency, mothers were having children born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or other drug-related conditions; It was also being noted that these children were often coming to the attention of child protective services. Further, crime statistics showing alcohol and/or crack, as well as other substances, to be a factor in many crimes including the sexual and physical abuse of children were increasing.
The first examinations of the problem were centered around determining the incidence rate of abusive parents with substance abuse or dependency problems. Findings were alarming, and continue to be. For example, in a very current report on child maltreatment and substance abuse, the Virginia Child Protection Newsletter (1998) estimated the incidence of substance abuse among maltreating families range from 26 - 80 percent of cases reported for abuse and neglect. It is also reported that, over the years, research has indicated that alcohol abuse has been associated with both abuse and neglect, while drug abuse has been found primarily in cases of neglect.
The empirical research that has investigated the problem over the last two decades has determined that the problem is associated with several psychosocial problems. These include: increased caseloads for child protective service providers; increased drug exposed infants; increased abandonment of children; increased incarceration of parents or placement of parents in drug treatment programs (Dore, Kauffman, Nelson-Zlupko & Granfort, 1996). Also, these children have been found to be more likely to stay in care longer and experience frequent changes in placement.
This research has also determined that the short-term effects of parental substance abuse on children include health problems, hyperactivity, learning disorders, conduct disorders, low academic performance, guilt and embarrassment, aggression, lack of trust, and low self- esteem (Dore, Kauffman, Nelson-Zlupko & Granfort, 199...