Exploring Parental Substance Misuse: Best Social Work Practices

This dissertation explores the implications of parental substance misuse on young children and identifies best practices in social work to improve lives. It covers the long-term misuse of drugs and alcohol by parents or carers and its impact on the health and growth of young children. The research aims to study these implications and identify effective social work practices. Objectives include developing findings and recommendations for child-focused practices, identifying best practices in assessment processes, and elaborating on systematic and ethical issues. The methodology involves a secondary data analysis using an interpretivism philosophy and inductive approach. The literature review provides an overview of published articles and activities on the topic, highlighting research gaps. Recommendations are provided to improve social work interventions and support for families affected by parental substance misuse. This document, contributed by a student, is available on Desklib, a platform providing AI-based study tools for students.

DISSERTATION

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
Overview of the topic...................................................................................................................4
Background......................................................................................................................................5
Research aim ...............................................................................................................................6
Research objectives......................................................................................................................6
Research questions ......................................................................................................................6
Outline of the methodology ........................................................................................................7
Structure of the dissertation.........................................................................................................7
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................9
To develop findings and recommendations in social work practices in relation to
understanding how child-focused practices can be addressed while working with parents with
substance misuse to identify and strengthen protective factors for welfare of young children. 10
To identify the best practices in the assessment process to consider the needs and risks
involved in parental substance misuse and how parents understand of the child care social
work model................................................................................................................................18
Identify and elaborate on systematic and ethical issues involved in parental substance misuse
to develop understanding around best practices within social work while working with both
children and parents...................................................................................................................24
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...................................................................................................27
........................................................................................................................................................30
........................................................................................................................................................30
........................................................................................................................................................31
DATA ANALYSIS........................................................................................................................31
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................32
RECOMMENDATION.................................................................................................................33
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................36

INTRODUCTION
Overview of the topic
Parent substance misuse is undertaken as the longer term misuse of drugs as well as
alcohol through a parent or carer incorporates parents and career who undertakes harmful
quantity of alcohol are much dependent upon alcohol. Moreover, there is a developing policy as
well activities into the impact of parental substances misuse both alcohol & drugs upon children.
Beside it, young in This is clear that the parental substance misuse may have an effect upon the
health & growth of young children. Individuals are often neglected into both norms discussion
and services provision (Li and et.al.,2021). In addition to this, it features into huge number of
cases open to social care of children. The effort for parenting capacity are to be undermined as
well as health & growth of young children that are to be harmed through parental substance
misuse is undertaken, specifically when other risk factors like domestic abuse as well as mental
health issues are present (Cavell, Spencer and McQuillin, 2021. Also, there is a critical risk
which parents would neglects its young children. It is so its concentrates are upon gaining
alcohol and drugs, as well as its ability is impaired through affects of substance so that they are
not become competent for paying appropriate attention towards its children’s requirements.
Furthermore, such negligence may have an adverse impact upon the health of children, its
physical and emotional growth, its education as well as put them at risk of sexual & physical
abuse (Impacts of parental substanstance on child. 2022). In case children are exposed towards
parental substance misuse as well as other factor of risk like domestic abuse as well as mental
health issues, there is a huge risk which they would also have health, mental health and substance
misuse issues (Impacts of substanstance on child. 2022). Along with this, it would not only
impact the children but also the closer relatives as well as the boarder family that incorporates
partners who does not misuse, siblings and grandparents. Children whose parents misuse alcohol
and drugs are 9 times as likely to be placed into local authority care through its 7th birthday as
those children whose parents does not misuse substances. Further, these experiences of early
childhood have pessimistic effect on health as well as wellbeing’s within adulthood that replicate
the risk factors into its own parenthood with effective impact on the public purse. So, the parent
substance misuse is a key public health and child protection aspects that have currently obtained
much policy interests. Children who live with a substance misusing parent which have a huge
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psychological, health and societal issues risks. While families do receive an intervention, it is
mainly a referral to individually – concentrated drug and alcohol treatment for misusing of parent
substance. The aim of this dissertation is to study the implications of parental substance misuse
on young children and identifying the best practices in social work to improve lives of the
people. The topics which are going to be discussed in this report are research aim, objectives,
questions, structure of dissertation, outline of methodology an literature review. Additionally,
research methodology and also some recommendations are also provided in this dissertation.
Background
The effect of the substance misuse is faced by the whole family and the family will not be
able to nurture their kids in a proper manner (O'Hara and et.al.,2020). Growing up without the
support and guidance of the parents is not a good start for the lives of the children. It can also be
seen that it may lead to bring some negative impacts such as less connection, no attachment,
weak communication, social life, and poor management of finances (Li and et.al.,2021). The
term parent substance misuse is assumed as the term in relation to the misuse of harmful
substance that is drugs, alcohol and many others. With the help of such harmful substances, the
life and health both of the parents will be adversely affected. Besides, there are some developing
activities and policies to reduce the impact of the parental substances misuse both alcohol and
drugs on the mental health of the children. Also, besides it the young individuals feel alone and
neglected into the world or among their friends. That is why various social care centre for
children are opening for reducing the bad impact of them. This is clear that the parental
substance misuse has disastrous effect on the health, mental, growth of the young children. The
effort for parenting capacity are to be undermined as well as health and growth of young children
that are to be harmed through parental substance misuse is undertaken, specifically when other
risk factors like domestic abuse as well as mental health issues are present. Also, there is a
dangerous risk which parents would neglect in its young children (Cavell, Spencer and
McQuillin, 2021). It also concentrates on gaining alcohol and drugs, as well as its ability is
impaired through effects of substance so that they are not become competent for paying
appropriate attention towards its children’s requirements. Furthermore, such carelessness may
have a contrary impact upon the mental health of children, physical and emotional growth, its
education as well as put them at risk of sexual & physical abuse. There are preventive measures
which can be used and such practises will play an essential role in the life of child and parent
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both since preventive measures will be helpful in dealing with the situations. Situation which the
children have to face when the parents consume too high proportion of drugs, alcohol or many
other. Being a parent their main duty is to take care of the changing wants, emotions and desires
of children. Due to which it is must to create a positive and motivating environment at the home
for their children. The Parent substance benefits in effecting the life of their child they for not
take care of their child in an effective manner and this results in decreasing the connection
between them. It is a universal fact that parents who consume more alcohol inclines to have
anger issues and less productive in their life and at work (Oltean and et.al.,2020). They are
irresponsible in relation to fulfil their duties and kids adopt wrong ways to find love care and
high support in the life. From the above, it can be understood that the child focused practices will
be significant to all individuals and parents where number of functions are done to develop their
understanding and knowledge effectively (Radey and McWey, 2021).
Research aim
The aim of this research is “to study the implications of parental substance misuse on
young children and identifying the best practices in social work to improve lives of the people”.
Research objectives
 To develop findings and recommendations in social work practices in relation to
understanding how child-focused practices can be addressed while working with parents
with substance misuse to identify and strengthen protective factors for welfare of young
children.
 To identify the best practices in the assessment process to consider the needs and risks
involved in parental substance misuse and how parents understand of the child care social
work model.
 Identify and elaborate on systematic and ethical issues involved in parental substance
misuse to develop understanding around best practices within social work while working
with both children and parents.
5

Research questions
 What are the various findings and recommendations in social work practices in relation to
understanding how child-focused practices can be addressed while working with parents
with substance misuse to identify and strengthen protective factors for welfare of young
children?
 What are the best practices in the assessment process to consider the needs and risks
involved in parental substance misuse and how parents understand of the child care social
work model?
 What are the different systematic and ethical issues involved in parental substance misuse
to develop understanding around best practices within social work while working with
both children and parents?
Outline of the methodology
In this research, secondary method will be used for collecting both qualitative and quantitative
data about the implications of parental substance misuse on young children and identifying the
best practices in social work to improve lives of the people. Inductive approach will be followed
for evaluating secondary information about the existing topic. Interpretivism philosophy will be
followed for gathering and evaluating secondary information about the topic.
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LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature review is undertaken as the overview of the lastly published articles as well as
activities upon the specific topic. Additionally, this is regarded as the scholarly sources survey
that provides a particular topic overview. Moreover, this is the secondary information that is
accumulated from distinct sources which are articles, books, journals and so on. This permits
investigator for accumulating in deep understandings related to the chosen topic due to that
relevant as well as valid conclusion may be drawn. In addition to this, the key literature objective
is to evaluate the gaps of research. Literature review is important aspects which is used by
researcher to complete the study in certain period of time and manage the data properly. This is
important for each individual to analysis the environment to know what is happening around and
how people who lives in society could be affect to work continuously. Society is made of
number of people who belongs to different culture, values, customs, and others having different
demand to get satisfaction and develop business productivity. A literature review is the
comprehensive summary of previous research on specific topic that can help to introduce the
new thoughts and work properly. It has seen that nowadays people are busier in their life who
does not spend their time with family that impacted negatively as waste of their energy, creating
issues in their daily life, to dis-connectivity with their parents and other that creates the issues
while running the activities. The literature is study of new thoughts and activities which are
developed for the purpose of growing their concern and attaining higher performance. Within
previous studies, there is an explanation regarding the findings and recommendations in social
work practices in relation to understanding how child-focused practices can be addressed while
working with parents with substance misuse to identify and strengthen protective factors for
welfare of young children. Also, best practices in the assessment process to consider the needs
and risk. This literature review will help researcher to analysis the environment and lives of
people and create awareness between them that could help to developing all functions and
activities effectively.
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To develop findings and recommendations in social work practices in relation to understanding
how child-focused practices can be addressed while working with parents with substance
misuse to identify and strengthen protective factors for welfare of young children.
As per the view of Bosk and et. al., (2021), parental misuse is defined as the long term
misuse of alcohol or drugs by a career or parents. This mainly includes parents and careers who
consume harmful effects of alcohol are mainly dependent on this thing and this effects the
overall life of their children. The parents are those people who give birth to their child and take
care of them by provide direction and managing all functions. Parent substance is the term in
which long term misuse of drugs and alcohol by a parent or carer. This involves consumption of
harmful amounts of alcohol, dependent on alcohol, using drugs regularly and depending on drugs
that affected the health of human being and create issue for their life. The use of illegal drugs or
the use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs or alcohol for purposes other than those for
which they are meant to be used, or in excessive amounts. In whole world, use or consume of
illegal drugs and use of prescription over the counter in excessive amount could create the issues
for individual life and affected the productivity. Due to using alcohol and drugs mind set of
people do not stable that created challenge for individual and their family members. The parents
should be focus on their children from the early age and should create awareness regarding
harmful impacts of parent substance. The parents need to bring improvements in their life as if
they are well educated and caring then there are less chances to put in bad habits. It is well said
by someone that family is the first school of a child where it learns speak, walk, talk, and
recognise to people. The parents should not involve in any hazardous activities otherwise it will
affect the badly to their life (Willoughby, 2019). Children are the responsibility of their parents
and they need to tackle them in an effective manner so that high they can attain high growth in
their life. Parents who generally drinks alcohol more mainly results in not meeting their business
needs in a proper way and this results in dissatisfying the children’s morale to do something
good in their career. It is understandable that there must be same child-focused practices that can
help parents to improve their lifestyle and reduce the consumption of alcohol. The substance may
lead to social, physical, emotional and job related issues due to which life of people being
affected negatively. The social issues such as children and parent do not be able to connect and
share with other people which has created the major issue while doing something. Society is the
involvement of number of people who have different needs and wants in changing environment
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and supported to grow the business. If children and parent are using substance, then they feel
unstable their mind and might be used abusive words while talking. This also create the domestic
violence at homes and not to work well. This also creates the problem in sharing the information
with others and affect the productivity (Lloyd, 2018). The another social problems connected
with SUDs involves homelessness, housing instability, criminal behaviour, and incarceration,
unemployment, and dependence on welfare that affects the productivity. The physical effect of
parent substance is family stress, depression, developmental lags, withdrawal, and psychosocial
dysfunctions that creates the problems while running the business. Due to consuming drugs and
alcohol people starts to feel uncomfortable and depression that creates the challenge while doing
some work. This is important for each individual to analysis what their child are doing, with
whom they seats, and focus on their studies instead of getting substances. Personal and emotional
distraction is also arises in children if parents are using the parental substance that could create
the challenge for their life and affected the productivity. Parents results in misusing the
substances can have unpredictable, chaotic lifestyles and may struggle to identify and meet the
needs of their children. This results in bringing harm in the life of children and this effects their
overall lifestyle which hinders their overall growth. It is important for their parents to use
particular child focused practices in their lifestyle so that they improve their substances within
their whole life so that no misunderstanding can be created. Excessive drinking by parents
actually creates a negative impact on the life of people and this results in decreasing the morale
and motivation of their children from their own parents for a long period of time. There are
several different types of child focused practices that help in improving life of child and parent
which are defined as under:
 Recognising the needs of children – Recognising the needs and wants of children is the
most important strategy that parent needs to adopt so that they utilise their tie in good
activities. The parents are having major role to build up and ruin the life of their children.
For instance, if parents are using alcoholic and drugs then children also learns and start to
use after a age or period. Instead of using parental substance, people should be focus on
their working and child’s suspicious activities that can help to bring improvements in
their life. For this, they need to focus on identifying the needs of their child in an
effective manner so that high variability in their life for satisfying them on high level
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(Latvala and et. al., 2022). It is the responsibility of the parents to reduce the
consumption of alcohol so that they focus more on the life of their child.
 Taking care of children – When parents consume high alcohol and drugs in their daily
life and this affects the life of children in gaining high variability so that they take care of
their child in an effective manner. The parents are having skills and emotions to tackle
their children and bringing the right functions to complete them. This is important for
each individual to analysis the environment and comes to know what are their children
doing and how they could perform the activities. It is the responsibility of parents to take
proper care of their child so that they feel important and valued in the life of parents.
Reducing the consumption of drugs for their children so that they deal with the tough
situation in an effective and substantial ways.
 Nurturing and attachment – When parents and children have warm feelings for with
each other and then this helps in building a great bond among them so that they maintain
future relations with them in order to gain particular substances in a proper manner
(Victor and et. al., 2018). Reducing the habit of daily drinking and taking drugs, it is
important for them to build high variability in their life and in gaining high value in the
life of their children. This is important for parents as well as children to have their good
nature and attachment which can be used to understand the issues and bring out the
solution accordingly. The parents should be attach with their child and provide them right
suggestion to do and managing the work effectively.
 Engage children in fun activities – Involving children in fun activities is considered as
customer focused strategy that help in dealing with the consequences of life and dealing
with the high level of stress. As environment is changing day by day where it became
important to focus on their children and engage them into fun activities which can help to
developing the all functions and activities effectively. By engaging time with children,
parents can improve their habits so that they consume less alcohol in gaining high
reliability and variability. This also helps in boosting their morale and confidence in their
personal life. In other words, parents should be conduct different fun activities and games
to develop their understandings and knowledge properly (Ungar, 2019).
 One to one communication – One to one communication is also considered as an
important child focused strategy that help the children and parents both in getting
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solutions for the particular problem in effective manner. It is important for the parents to
communicate with their child and about their problem in order to solve their problems
and also for declining the process. Like if in case parents and children both go to the
doctor for solving a problem and the doctor explains both parents and child which results
in one to one communication. To share knowledge and skills communication is most
important as it bring bunch of happiness and goals to do something which can be used to
develop the personal knowledge and skills. The parents require to follow the strategy of
one to one communication as it helps to understand what their child is doing and how
they used to share the knowledge and skills to work effectively.
 Making a positive environment – Maintaining positive environment in the household
for both parents and child so that they both live in a peaceful environment for improved
lifestyle. This also helps in developing the morale and motivation of children by making
their parents involved n all the activities so that feel comfortable and happy while staying
with each other (McGovern and et. al., 2020). This also helps in dealing with the
problems of both parents and child because for building a stress free environment it is
important for parents to take care of their child in an effective manner. Parents are those
people who decides to what their children will become in their life after getting education
and need to create kind of positive environment that could help to feel free and attract to
develop their skills.
 To ensure their safety – It is the responsibility of their parents to keep their children safe
from any difficult situation and from any life changing event. This can be done by when
their parents focus more on taking constant sessions for improving their daily habit of
drinking and of taking drugs. This helps in improving their living style and this also
results in increasing their interest in taking part in all the house related activities so that
they satisfy their children.
 Build a planned break – The children firstly learns from their family and should plan
for outing form them which can help to developing the skills and knowledge to work
effectively. The children feel happy and satisfied while going to outside that can help to
develop the skills and abilities to work continuously. To have break can help children to
keep their mind fresh and start to work accordingly. For example, the parents should
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follow the planning to go outside and managing the all work accordingly that can help to
managing all activities and functions effectively (Ife, Soldatić, and Briskman, 2022).
These practices play a very important role within the life of both child and parent because
this helps in dealing with the situations that children face at the time of when parents consume
high proportion of drugs and alcohol (Laing and et. al., 2019). Taking care of the changing needs
and wants of child is the major responsibility of parents and that is why it is important for them
to create a high motivating environment for their child. Parent substance helps in effecting the
life of their child they for not take care of their child in an effective manner and this results in
decreasing the connection between them. Parents who consume more alcohol tends to be less
productive in their life and are irresponsible about their duties and facts that they need to fulfil
for gaining high support from their life so that high value can be gained. From the above it has
explained as child focused practices are most important to individual and parents where number
of functions are done to develop their understanding and knowledge effectively.
To believe in spiritual activities – If someone does wrong with others then receive the
same that creates many problems for individuals. This practice is important to improve the
changes in their life and children that affect the all functions as well as activities. The parnets
should be focus over different spiritual activities take participation which could be used to
develop the understanding and make them loyal and supportive person. The parents who uses
more alcohol and drugs does not focus over spiritual activities that could create the challenge for
each individual and affected the productivity.
As said by Larson and et.al., (2019), communication with the child can take various forms
such as listening, direct talk, writing, facial expressions and many others. Social workers
communicate with the child and young people to understand their point of view and opinion.
They also connect with them by keeping them engaged and listening to them which can add a
positive change in the lives of the children (Zhang and et.al., 2019). The government of various
countries have taken various initiatives and there are various foundations which are linked with
dealing with children such as building social connections, enhance the level of knowledge. Such
knowledge will help in the child development and better emotional connectivity among all.
There are various approaches which are used to strength the situation of the young kids. The kids
are required to be treated with care and love so that their experience will be nurtured. That can
also be developed by building a positive impact on them whereas when the kids are not affected
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