An investigative report into parental substance abuse and the negative impact it has on children in the United Kingdom

Contents

1. Executive Summary

2. Terms of reference

3. Procedures

4. Findings

5. Conclusions

6. Recommendations

7. References

1. Executive Summary

Substance misuse among parents is a major issue for many young children who are in their development stage of growing up. This report will aim to find an understanding of why parents use drugs and what the worst-case scenario would be for children if their parents have an overdose. This report will also contain a conclusion to why parents use drugs and alcohol. The contents will also show official Government statistics along with findings of substance misuse. Secondary research was conducted.

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2.  Terms of reference

Helen Evans (Communications Lecturer, Edinburgh College) instructed Zen Hayat (Scottish Wider Access Wider Programs student) to produce a schematic report to investigate parental substance abuse and the effect it has on children in the United Kingdom. The report is to be submitted on the 20^th February 2019.

3.          Procedures

3.1  Research into substance misuse among parents and it’s impact on children in the United Kingdom

3.2  Analysis of statistics to find out how many children are affected by parental overdose

4.              Findings

4.1  The impact of substance misuse on children

4.1.1        Many children will feel unloved and emotionally abused if their parents are substance abusers, while the child is in development stages of life, difficulties can arise behaviourally, emotionally and problems with initiating and sustaining relationships with loved ones.

4.1.2        A child may take on caring responsibilities for either parents or younger siblings.

4.1.3        Regards to caring for their parents children may also gain a bad attendance record at school resulting in poor academic performance.

4.1.4        Exposure to criminal activities and may be taken away from their parents if social services or child protection services where to intervene.

4.1.5        Children may start offendin