Impact Of Substance Misuse

Approximately 100, 000 Scottish children are having to deal with a parent who's addicted to drugs or alcohol.

Research shows there's a gap between what happens to help vulnerable youngsters when their mum or dad stops misusing substances and moves into recovery.

Members of the Partnership Drugs Initiative will meet today to mark the start of an action research programme to fill the gap.
 
Elaine Wilson, PDI Programme Manager, said:

"This event was booked out in November and many more professionals indicated interest in attending. That alone tells us that this research is needed. We are delighted to have the Scottish Government's support in funding the research.  We want to work with charities from all over Scotland to listen, in particular, to the views and experiences of children and young people living with or who have lived with the impact of their parents' substance misuse. 
 
"In particular, we want to find out what children need when that misuse stops.  We know from the charities we support that this is an issue, with children sometimes feeling left out or left behind, still struggling to cope with the change in circumstances. In some cases, children stop being carer for their parent and/or siblings, that can leave them feeling very confused about the change in family dynamics.  And some find it hard to trust and support what is going on, refusing to move back home or engage with their parent, who for much of their childhood, has effectively been absent.
 
"These anecdotal cases suggest a much bigger issue for potentially tens of thousands of children and young people in Scotland every year. Our research aims to improve our knowledge and understanding so that services are in a better position to support children and young people who themselves, are effectively in recovery.  Not just here in Scotland, but elsewhere in the world too. 
 
"This research has the potential to make a real difference to some of Scotland's most vulnerable children and young people, ensuring that Scotland becomes a better place for them to grow up."