Parental drug abuse is one of the main reasons behind child abuse, which often leads to their death, a recent report from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services reveals. He says that most of the children who had died from abuse and neglect in the state were the fault of a parent who abused substances.
Children who had suffered deaths had been suffocated in their sleep or drowned in the bathtub. Some of the children had succumbed to trauma, while others died when left unattended in a hot car. It was also evident from the report that children who were driven by drunk parents were at high risk of dying from negligence.
Overall, the report indicated that the number of deaths from child abuse and neglect fell by 22.5 percent in 2017. Yet nearly half of the deaths occurred as a result of drug or alcohol use by parents. The findings were similar to the report from the previous year (2016). Half of the 222 children who died were under the supervision of a parent or caregiver who used drugs or alcohol.
Some key findings of the report are:
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In the past five years or so, children 3 years and younger made up a significant portion (80 percent) of deaths from abuse and neglect.
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52 percent of the deaths were caused by a substance-abusing parent.
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23 percent of child abuse victims had a parent or caregiver with a mental health condition.
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Domestic violence incidents were responsible for 17 percent of child deaths.
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More than 57 percent of the children who died from abuse or neglect in fiscal year 2017 were too young for school and not enrolled in daycare. In 2016, the figures were 40 percent.
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A history of domestic violence was noted in 40 percent of child deaths.
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The 2017 report also indicated that marijuana was the most commonly used substance related to child abuse and neglect deaths, followed by alcohol, cocaine, and methamphetamine; and sometimes a combination of substances.
Drug use and impact on children
Unfortunately, many parents don’t realize how their substance abuse affects parenting. While stoning themselves with marijuana, they feel that they are just using marijuana and that they are unlikely to hurt their child. However, a drugged parent is unlikely to impart the same levels of love and care as someone who is not addicted to any substance.
Dimple Patel, associate director of public policy for TexProtects, an organization focused on child welfare policy, said that each case is a “different and unique situation” and that sometimes parents can be users of functional drugs that do not affect safety. and well-being. of their children. One of the reasons that parents cannot access the right kind of treatment is due to the fact that they cannot take time off work or lack the support system that would ensure that their children are being cared for while receiving treatment.
Choosing a life without drugs
One can easily choose a life without drugs. However, before embarking on this journey, it is necessary to remove the traces of toxins from the system. Detoxification is the first step to recovery. Therefore, it is important that the chosen detox facility is equipped with all the amenities that make the path to sobriety easier and more effective, thus paving the way for a successful recovery. Enroll in a program at any of the rapid detox centers it can make the journey less cumbersome.
