Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDAC) were introduced to England in 2008 following their development in the USA. Pilots launched across the country adopted a family-based strategy with the aim to improve outcomes for children that live with parents who misuse substances or alcohol. The numbers of children entering the care system has increased…

A developmental cascade model for adolescent substance use beginning in infancy was examined in a sample of children with alcoholic and nonalcoholic parents. The model examined the role of parents' alcohol diagnoses, depression and antisocial behavior in a cascading process of risk via 3 major hypothesized pathways: first, via parental…

Objective: In recent years cohort studies have examined childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a risk factor for substance use disorders (SUDs) in adolescence and young adulthood. The long-term risk is estimated for development of alcohol, cannabis, combined alcohol and psychoactive SUDs, combined SUDs (nonalcohol), and…

The stress-strain-coping-support model of how adult family members are affected by a relative's substance misuse is equally relevant to children who live with parental or familial substance misuse. To date, the main beneficiaries of the 5-Step Method have been adult family members, yet children can benefit from familial intervention generally and…

This issue of "The NSDUH Report" examines the number of children living with substance-dependent or substance-abusing parents. It focuses on biological, step-, adoptive, and foster children under 18 years of age who were living with one or both parents at the time of the survey interview. All findings are based on annual averages from the…

This study examined how girls' initial use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana related to changes in depressive, generalized anxiety, and social anxiety symptoms, and whether these changes varied based on which internalizing symptom trajectories the girls were on. Data came from the Pittsburgh Girls Study, a community-based study of girls…

The majority of youth with substance use disorders (SUDs) manifest one or more co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Consequently, many of these youths are being prescribed with psychotropic medications. As prescribing rates continue to increase for early-onset psychiatric disorders, potential risk for substance of abuse-psychiatric medication…

This study used latent class regression to identify latent trajectory classes based on individuals' diagnostic course of substance use disorders (SUDs) from late adolescence to early adulthood as well as to examine whether several psychosocial risk factors predicted the trajectory class membership. The study sample consisted of 310 individuals…

The purposes of this study were to identify factors that would ameliorate the risk for substance abuse problems among children of alcoholics (COA), and to explore mechanisms of protection, particularly the Stress-Buffering model. Protective factors for children of alcoholics were examined in a controlled study (N=386). Three possible models are…

This study examined the extent of violence toward children and factors associated with child maltreatment in Florida using a cohort of children (N = 499,330) who were adjudged to be victims of maltreatment between July 1, 1996, and June 30, 2003. To assess the extent of maltreatment, five indicators were proposed and examined. Multivariate…

In 6 years of operation, the outpatient drug free treatment program at a comprehensive youth serving agency in a mid-sized northeastern city had never performed to the funder's satisfaction, had received substantial cuts in grant awards each year, and was in danger of further budget cuts. An administrative intervention was designed to improve…

This report is intended to help communities identify and implement programs designed specifically for parents. The first chapter, "Characteristics of Effective Prevention Program," by Bonnie Benard, explores program comprehensiveness and intensity, strategies, and planning. The second chapter "Parent Training as a Prevention…

This article reviews the factors that influence the development of substance abuse and other negative outcomes among children of alcoholic parents (COAs). It reviews several pathways that may lead to the development of substance disorders for COAs, then explores protective factors that may decrease their risk for future negative outcomes.

Children's experience at home is the largest single factor in whether or not they will have a drug or alcohol problem early in life. The best prevention program for many people at risk is to make sure their addicted family member receives appropriate treatment. Several steps need to take place to enhance the family's role in preventing alcohol or…

Examines two treatment strategies on children's drug refusal skills and drug-related information. Thirty-four third graders were randomly assigned to one of three groups: rehearsal-plus, general information, and control. Subjects in the rehearsal-plus groups showed significantly improved behavioral skills and elaborative rehearsal. Subjects in the…