Drug Abusing Mom Plus New Baby Equals Child Abuse

Reuters reported about a new study from Australia that found, hold on to your hats for this one, mothers who abuse drugs have a higher risk of committing child abuse. It also found that their children have a higher risk of being placed in foster care. Gasp Does this study seem a little, like - "well, duh" to anyone else?

However, I must say that the child abuse statistics that came from this study are interesting.

• Mothers who abused amphetamines or opiates such as heroin were 13 times more likely to neglect or physically abuse their infants than other mothers of babies of similar age.

• Mothers who abused opiates or amphetamines had nearly three times the risk of neglect, abuse or foster care placement than mothers who were using methadone to help with their drug addictions.

• 52% of the children born to drug abusing mothers became victims of neglect or physical, emotional or sexual abuse.

• 6% of the children whose mothers did not abuse drugs became victims of neglect or physical, emotional or sexual abuse.

• 25% of the children whose mothers abused drugs entered foster care.

• 2% of the comparison group, children with non-drug abusing mothers, entered foster care.

It seems that this study was necessary to properly show the need for information on how to best help mothers who are addicted to drugs. It was also noted that the study pointed out that mothers being treated by methadone for their addictions did better parenting than mothers who continued to abuse drugs.

This study also proved a belief of mine, one that I've held for years. It it weren't for drug and alcohol abuse, there would be very little need for foster care. Well, duh.

SOURCE:
Mom's drug use tied to child-abuse risk - Reuters.com