Living with parents with problematic substance use: Impacts and turning points
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Geoffrey Maina; Marcella Ogenchuk; Summer Gaudet
- Source
- Public health nursing (Boston, Mass.)REFERENCES. 38(5)
- Subject
- Parents
medicine.medical_specialty
Substance-Related Disorders
media_common.quotation_subject
Psychological intervention
Exploratory research
Life Change Events
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Intervention (counseling)
Adaptation, Psychological
medicine
Humans
030212 general & internal medicine
Psychiatry
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Child
General Nursing
media_common
Schools
030504 nursing
Addiction
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
medicine.disease
Substance abuse
Community health
Substance use
0305 other medical science
Psychology
- Language
- ISSN
- 1525-1446
Background Growing up in an environment where substance use is prevalent creates a climate for adverse childhood experiences. These experiences can contribute to mental and psychological problems later in life. Methods This study used an exploratory study design to explore the experiences of individuals whose upbringing was influenced by substance use at home or who had parents with addiction problems. Results Four themes shaped the participants' lives: (1) impact of substance use at home on children; (2) school influences on substance use; (3) aggravating traumatic life experiences, and d) rebuilding a battered life. Conclusion Growing up in homes with addictions created an environment for traumatic events and encounters. Participants adopted diverse strategies to cope with these experiences, such as leaving home, using substances early in life, and dropping out of school. Screening and intervention for childhood trauma should be encouraged both in schools and community health settings. Such interventions can reduce substance use among school children to deal with ensuing trauma.