Parents Who Misuse Drugs and Alcohol: Effective Interventions in Social Work Child Protection

There is increasing public and professional concern about the effect on children of parents who misuse drugs and alcohol. This new volume provides a review of the problem, the issues facing professionals involved in child welfare, and a critique of approaches and interventions often used, based on the authors' own research and practical evidence. Parental misuse of drugs and alcohol has been recognized as a major challenge for child and family services in recent years ? it is not a small-scale problem that can be left to specialists, but an issue that every professional working with children or their families encounters on a regular basis. In this book two of the leading experts in this area present their own original research findings, and insights from the wider literature, to define ?substance misuse? and to outline key elements in responding effectively to this issue. Their approach suggests that the best way to tackle the problem is to focus on the needs of both the child and the parent. The authors provide tried and tested evidence-based guidelines for effective practice for those assessing families affected by parents who misuse drugs or alcohol. In addition, the authors suggest that these approaches offer the opportunity to improve practice and policy responses across the field. This book presents original research outlining the key elements in responding to parental misuse of drugs and alcohol. Offers a definition of “misuse” and “addiction” and the factors that influence the nature of misuse or addiction Reviews extensively the nature and impact of parental substance misuse on children and families using the latest evidence Explores how research and theories might help inform professionals or non-professionals assessing families affected by parents who misuse drugs or alcohol Provides an in-depth discussion of Motivational Interviewing, including a critical discussion of the challenges and limitations involved in using it in child and family settings Considers the wider implications of the findings for practice and policy and argues that these responses can be used across the field of work with vulnerable children and their families