It is important that parents look after their children’s health and show them affection and warmth. Making sure children feel secure and loved can help them to deal better with difficult things that can happen. When parents are not healthy themselves, it may be more difficult to make sure their children get all they need. Parents and carers who take drugs or drink too much alcohol can find it more difficult to see what their children need. It is hard in these situations to ask for help.
Children and young people can also fall into the trap of misusing substances for a variety of reasons. Those who persistently abuse alcohol or drugs often experience an array of problems, which can include struggling at school, poor mental health, low self-esteem, poor social skills, poor peer relationships, involvement with anti-social behaviour and can also put them at risk of abuse and crime. Additionally, there are consequences for family members, the community, and the entire society. It is important that we identify at the earliest opportunity, children and young people who are using alcohol and/or drugs, understand why they are, and support them to prevent longer term impact as they move into adulthood.
Information sources
- Drugs and alcohol support
- Humankind: County Durham Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service
- Wellbeing for Life: drug and alcohol awareness