Parental substance abuse and the nature of child maltreatment

The authors reviewed 190 randomly selected records from the case load of a large juvenile court. Th records involved cases in which the state took legal custody of the children following a finding of maltreatment, based on a 'clear and convincing' standard of evidence. Sixty-seven percent (127/190) involved parents who were classified as substance abusers. The results of this study revealed speci between (a) alcohol abuse and physical maltreatment and (b) cocaine abuse and sexual maltreatment. analyses, testing for the effects of polysubstance abuse, revealed that additional forms of substan significantly to the effects of alcohol in predicting physical maltreatment or cocaine in predictin
A study which examined the relationship between parental substance abuse and child maltreatment is presented. Records from a juvenile court were randomly selected and reviewed. Results showed that parents who indulged in heavy alcohol drinking performed physical abuse on their children while those who engaged in cocaine abuse involved their children in sexual maltreatment. Further studies are urged to specify the factors which lead to this behavior predisposition on the part of the parents.