Children, Youth, & Families

The impact of illicit substance use and misuse on children is often hidden until their parents experience an overdose or become unable to take care of them. Many states have experienced significant increases in foster care placements, and neonatal abstinence syndrome has skyrocketed. Exposure to traumatic experiences such as witnessing an overdose or death, incarceration of a parent, or experiencing long-term neglect can cause distress that can last into adulthood. Family bonds may be weakened by illicit substance use and misuse, and grandparents and family members caring for affected children often face financial hardships and lack access to services that help address children’s trauma or deal with their own grief and stigma. Given the far-reaching and long-term consequences of illicit substance use and misuse on families, multisector collaborative partnerships among public safety, public health, and behavioral health entities with systems that support children—child welfare, schools, early childhood programs—are essential to identifying and providing early intervention for children impacted by illicit substance use and misuse and developing interventions that address the needs of the whole family.