Introduction
Drug misuse refers to using a substance in a manner, not per applicable legal or medical guidelines. Health and body functioning are negatively affected, and the condition may manifest itself in drug dependence or an array of other harmful and problematic behaviors. A person’s toxic or chronic use of illicit drugs can have various negative consequences, including social, psychological, physical, and legal ramifications for the individual and various other negative consequences for those around them. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive literature review that examines drug misuse and its repercussions and how children from families abusing drugs are affected negatively. Specifically, the study question at the heart of this literature review is: What consequences do children suffer from drug misuse that they witness in their environment?
Television screens are loaded with stories of young people engaged in drug use, antisocial behavior, and criminal activities. One is frequently left wondering what occurred to cause them to go off the rails. The presence of children loitering across the streets and participating in uncivilized behavior makes one wonder about their social status. After interviewing a number of them, the information gleaned as a consequence was devastating. The majority came from broken households due to substance abuse and drug use. As a result, the journey towards researching drug misuse and its effects on children began.
Summary Overview
The literature review will focus on three major research studies, and it will compare and contrast the studies based on the research conducted.
Discussion
Some studies have attempted to shed light on the psychological challenges that abusers and their families face. Papp and Hartley (2018) conducted significant research on this topic. To better understand the elements contributing to parental drug misuse and its harm to the families impacted. They shed light on the psychological toll that raising children with neurodevelopmental impairments, such as autism, has on the families that live with them. Stress, intoxication, and a lack of resources can contribute to a person’s mental weariness and lack of sleep. It results in the misuse of antidepressant drugs their physicians may have prescribed. Addicts may not realize the damage they are subjecting themselves to until it is too late, and they may be unable to stop. According to Wagner et al. (2008), adolescent drug use directly results from the family environment. Many teenagers experience psychological disorders due to constant conflict between their parents, drug addiction by their parents, and other factors. Adolescents in urban settings are mainly the most vulnerable to substance abuse because of the intense peer pressure, which leads to a desire to fit in with the addicts.
Social difficulties are more likely in children whose families include at least one drug user. Generally, they distance themselves from their peers and engage in other unpleasant behaviors such as criminal activities, and sexual misconduct, among other vices. In some instances, they may engage in antisocial conduct. In their research, Petrie, Bunn, and Byrne (2007) discovered that the behavior of our children directly reflects our own. If their parents smoke, their children are more likely to smoke, and if their parents use drugs, their children are more likely to use drugs. If the parents are using drugs, they do not have the moral authority to teach their children about the hazards of drug abuse (Wagner et al., 2008). These two studies reveal that adolescents desire to rebel against their parents and society. The desire is indicated by the behavior of their role models, who, in this case, were drug addicts.
Previous studies show that neglected children from drug-abusing homes are too familiar. Clothing, housing, and food are just a few of the necessities that may be lacking. Many of these children wind up on the streets, engaging in antisocial and illegal actions to make ends meet (Petrie et al., 2007; Wagner et al., 2008). When both parents use drugs or drink heavily, the family’s foundation is weakened. Although addiction may result from family difficulties, parents must still safeguard and care for their children and provide them with the minimal necessities for survival (Papp & Hartley 2018). When faced with adversity, no parent should lose sight of their obligation to their children.
Physical and mental agony are two more harmful consequences that children from broken homes experience. Some parents physically abuse their children, as seen by the numerous bruises that cover their children’s bodies. Some of these children behave terrifyingly and are always afraid of adults because they perceive animosity behind the eyelids of people supposed to protect them (Wagner et al. 2008). In their study published in 2007, Petrie et al. investigate how these children adapt psychologically due to physically abusive parenting. According to their findings, the mental suffering that these children are experiencing leads them to abuse substances such as tobacco, alcohol, and even potent pharmaceuticals. Keeping an eye out for signals that their children are becoming unduly reliant on drugs and that this harms their physical or mental well-being is highly suggested for parents (Papp & Hartley 2018). Parents, therefore, need always to maintain their vigilance, regardless of the obstacles they encounter.
There is a plethora of information about children’s negative consequences due to growing up in a drug-abusing family. Papp and Hartley’s study focused on the misuse of prescribed medications by parents who had trouble raising children with impairments. It draws attention to the difficulties they face and implies that this is the primary reason for their substance abuse. Regardless, this may not always be the case. The study also considers the children’s issues due to their parents’ incapacity to manage the medications that have been prescribed for them appropriately. Wagner and colleagues did not rule out the potential to address how teenagers will cope with the consequences of substance abuse due to a dysfunctional family system. Petrie et al.’s study focuses on programs that parents can build to battle their children’s drug abuse; nonetheless, it is beneficial to acquire a deeper understanding of the causes that may have contributed to their engagement in substance addiction. It will help in tackling the problem from its roots hence eradicating it.
Conclusion
The research mainly relies on the literature of previous studies since it lays the framework for the topic that will be investigated by the researcher: What are the detrimental impacts of drug abuse on children? The majority of the scholars’ findings agree with one another. The research will help one uncover the unpleasant experiences these children have had due to drugs and substance misuse. Even though the previous study addresses some of the challenges they are faced, the research will focus on difficulties that may have gone missing in past studies.
References
Papp, L. M., & Hartley, S. L. (2018). Mothers’ and fathers’ prescription drug misuse in family contexts: implications for parents’ adjustment of children with and without autism. Addiction research & theory, 26(4), 267-274.
Petrie, J., Bunn, F., & Byrne, G. (2007). Parenting programs for preventing tobacco, alcohol or drugs misuse in children< 18: a systematic review. Health education research, 22(2), 177-191.
Wagner, K. D., Ritt-Olson, A., Soto, D. W., & Unger, J. B. (2008). Variation in family structure among urban adolescents and its effects on drug use. Substance use & misuse, 43(7), 936-951.