Children and teenagers recognised too as perpertrators
A new report has identified parents as sufferers of abuse and violence from substance misusing children. The report by Adfam and Against Violence and Abuse (AVA) explores and documents Child to Parent Violence (CPV) and consulted with 88 parents seeking support from services.
- Between a rock and a hard place - Project report (pdf)
- Between a rock and a hard place - Executive summary (pdf)
Key findings from the research found:
- Children as young as 11 and as old as 40 are physically, emotionally and/or mentally abusing their parents
- There is a significant correlation between substance misuse and perpetrating domestic violence
- 88% of victims of abuse were female and 12% were male
- That abuses range from lower grade emotional manipulation to at the extreme end deaths. Metropolitan Police Service records show that in 2009, 6 out of 7 non-partner/ex partner victims were mothers or fathers killed by sons – with substance misuse or mental health problems considered a key factor
The report makes reccomendations including calls for better understanding of CPV, how to respond to requests for help and referral mechanisms are needed for front-line workers (such as police, social workers and GPs). It argues family support services are a cost effective resource, providing essential support to parents at a fraction of the cost that other health and social care services.
Children's Commissioner re-iterates calls for protection of children
A new report from the Children's Commissioner urges the Government to give as much attention to alcohol abuse among parents as to other drug misuse, and to train the relevant authorities to spot the signs of problem drinking in families earlier. See BBC report.
The Children's Commissioner exists to promote the best interests of children and young people in England. It's report suggest more than a fifth of all children in the UK, approximately 2.5 million, are living with a hazardous drinker (risky) drinker. The research also suggests 26,000 babies in England are living with a parent who is a dependent drinker, which is equivalent to 31,000 across the UK.
- Silent Voices - A briefing on the key themes and findings from the report
- Silent Voices – Supporting children and young people affected by parental alcohol misuse (Full report)
A similar report from Turning Point was released last year. In 2010 Alcohol Concern produced a report as part of Alcohol Awareness week 2010. Alcohol Concern's Embrace project was set up to develop better policy and practice around alcohol and children, families and domestic abuse.
Further alcohol-related reports and guidance related to children and young people can be found here on the Alcohol Learning Centre, including the CMO guidance or see the Drinkaware web-page for parents. Adfam exist to improve the quality of life for families affected by drug and alcohol use - and have a find help here page.
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