One in four American children live in parental addiction

A new study published in Jama Pediatrics paints a description of childhood in America today: About 19 million children (of all children under the age of 18, a quarter) grew up in families where at least one parent struggled with alcohol or drug addiction.

Researchers at the University of Michigan used the latest 2023 data to document the disturbing growth of these figures, highlighting the urgent need to expand parental treatment options and early intervention resources for vulnerable children.

The rise in numbers points to an increasingly serious crisis

This estimate represents an increase in 20 million children compared to using the 2020 data, which was released only a few months ago. This rapid rise signal has deepened concerns about the intergenerational impact of family addiction in the United States.

“A quarter of children now have parents’ medication use disorders, which gives people more urgency and needs to help parents connect effective treatments, expand children’s early intervention resources, and reduce the risk of children developing their own substance use problems,” explained Dr. Sean Esteban McCabe.

McCabe directs the University of Michigan Center for Drug, Alcohol, Smoking and Health Research and is a professor at the UM School of Nursing and Social Studies.

Alcohol lead, but a variety of substances attract attention

The researchers identified specific substances that cause problems in these families. Alcohol remains the most common problem, with an estimated 12 million parents meeting the clinical criteria for alcohol use disorders. The study also found:

• 6 million parents meet the criteria for marijuana use disorder
• 2 million children live with their parents, abuse of prescription drugs
• 500,000 children live with their parents and struggle with illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine
• 3.4 million parents show disorderly use of multiple substances

Perhaps the most worrying thing is the discovery that approximately 6 million children live in families where parents’ material problems co-occur with mental health conditions such as severe depression, which can further enhance negative outcomes for children.

The cycle of addiction

Growing up parents’ addiction can pose significant risks to children. Vita McCabe, MHSA, M.D., co-author and director of the University of Michigan Addiction Treatment Services, said the children face multiple loopholes.

“We know that children who grow up in families with medication use problems in adults are more likely to have adverse childhood experiences, use alcohol and medication earlier, more frequently, and be diagnosed with their own mental health.

The ripple effect of parental material problems can extend far to the future of children, potentially creating generational cycles of addiction and mental health challenges in the event of inappropriate intervention.

Time and method are important

The study relies on data from the National Drug Use and Health Survey, a federal program that tracks drug use in the United States since the 1970s. The researchers used diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM-5) to identify drug use disorders.

This timing raises other issues as the surveys that provide this critical data face an uncertain future. All staff members of the federal investigation received a notice of layoffs in April due to budget cuts by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Will we lose the ability to track this critical health information, just as the crisis seems to worsen? This potential data gap is at the moment when understanding the scope of the problem seems more important than ever.

Treatment options exist

Despite shocking statistics, the researchers stressed that there are effective treatments. “That’s why it’s why it’s for parents to know that there are effective treatments, including medications and/or type C for alcohol-drinking disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy for marijuana use disorders, and cognitive behavioral therapy for opioid use disorders, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, including cognitive behavioral therapy for opioids, including prescription and over-the-counter medications.”

Ty Schepis, PhD, an addiction psychologist at Texas State University, and senior authors of the study noted that children with parents with established drug use and mental health conditions are at higher risk. “This is important because it poses additional risks to children and adults,” he explained.

As parents’ drug use disorders continue to climb, the study authors call for increased attention at the federal, state and local levels to support affected families. Evidence-based, family-centric treatments that address addiction and mental health can help break cycles and protect the next generation from similar struggles.