Web resource:	http://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au.wwwproxy0.library.unsw.edu.au/sites/ndarc.cms.med.unsw.edu.au/files/ndarc/resources/TR.320%20%28Nov%202011%29.pdf
Type:	Journal Article
Title:	Child protection and mothers in substance abuse treatment
Authors:	Taplin, Stephanie Mattick, Richard P
Population:	People with drug and/or alcohol issues
Categories:	People with mental health and/or drug and alcohol issues
Year:	2011
Notes:	This report presents the major findings from the Child Protection and Mothers in Substance Abuse Treatment study, a three-year study funded by NSW Community Services, Department of Family and Community Services, and the University of New South Wales. Parental substance use has received particular attention as a child protection concern in recent years, but it is an area in which there has been little research. Evidence has shown that parental substance misuse is associated with high rates of child maltreatment, but substance use by a parent does not necessarily mean that they are abusing or neglecting their children. Research from overseas has found that families in which alcohol or other drug use is present are more likely to come to the attention of child protection services than are families with the same characteristics but no substance use. This study provides an enhanced understanding of parenting issues and child protection involvement among women with a history of illicit drug use in Australia. Women with at least one child aged under 16 years were recruited from opioid treatment clinics across Sydney and interviewed between May 2009 and May 2010. Their drug treatment and child protection records were also used as a source of information where they consented. It was found that just over one-third of the women were involved with child protection services at the time of interview, with one-third of their children in OOHC. Factors which significantly increased the likelihood of being involved with child protection were: having a greater number of children; being on psychiatric medication; and having less than daily contact with their own parents. Most of these women were highly disadvantaged, having little formal education, tending to be on government benefits, experiencing financial problems and living in public housing, with extensive substance use and drug and alcohol treatment histories. A significant number also had mental health, had a history of criminal involvement and had experienced some type of abuse as a child, with sexual abuse the most common. Recent domestic violence was less common. This research supports a focus on interventions which treat substance-using women's mental health problems and improves their social supports.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/13795
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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