|
New
Information on the Effects of Substance Abuse On
Parenting
For a pdf of this
article, click here
In a
very recent article, (Schleuderer, 2005) the author notes that even
minimal amounts of ingested substances (i.e. drugs or alcohol) can have
a significant effect on parenting skills. Citing Filmore (2003),
Schleuderer notes that laboratory findings on the impact of substances
on behavior are misleading, both because the doses of substances are
“much lower than commonly self-administered in recreational use” and
because the behaviors measured in laboratory studies are of necessity
simple and “highly identifiable.” Parenting, in contrast, requires
complex behaviors and judgments, requiring choices between “a wide
variety of parenting behaviors, many with both short and long term
consequences. Moreover, these choices must be made in situations that
are often highly complex and emotionally charged……The expectation would
be that the impact of even low doses of substances of abuse would be
considerably greater than the studies have found.” Also very
important to note is the fact that “the cognitive effects of
substances of abuse can outlast the period of acute
intoxication…..sometimes for as long as 3 weeks after last ingestion.”
The author concludes that “Low doses of
substances of abuse impair judgment. Applying the impaired judgment that
comes from even low doses of substances of abuse to the complex array of
subtle judgments that are necessary for good parenting yields impaired
parenting…… Furthermore, the negative effects outlast the period of
acute intoxication and are surprisingly long lasting. Many courts write
orders that parents who may have substance abuse issues should not
ingest substances for 24 hours prior to having access to their children.
This may not be enough time to clear the effects of the substances on
judgment.”
References
Fillmore, M. T., & Vogel-Sprott, M.
(2000). Response inhibition under alcohol: Effects of cognitive and
motivational conflict. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 61, 239-246.
Schleuderer, 2005. Small Amounts of Substance Use, Human
Judgment and Parenting.
Family Law
Psychology Briefs Volume 5, Number 3
|
