Unfortunately, there is strong evidence to suggest that adults who were subject to either sexual or physical abuse during childhood are much more likely to develop an addiction to drugs and alcohol.
In the USA, the National Children’s Alliance states around 700,000 children are abused each year.
Research carried out back in 2003 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said around two-thirds of children subject to abuse attributed the abuse to their caregivers’ substance misuse.
Unfortunately, up-to-date data applying to the UK does not exist. If you are able to find such data, please contact us today and we shall update this article.
It’s true that the vast majority of parents work tirelessly in helping to create a loving and supporting environment for their children. It’s also true that at least some of these people guilty of abusing their children due to their addiction are not entirely to blame for these circumstances.
For instance, many of these caregivers may have been abused during their own childhood. The cycle of addiction and child abuse may have existed in these people’s family for many generations.
The cycle of addiction and child abuse may become entrenched if radical intervention on behalf of Social Services does not take place.
Often people view child abuse as an evil that should be stopped. Obviously, we would agree that child abuse should be stopped whenever it is detected. To do otherwise would mean the State is failing its future generation. However, we disagree that child abuse is always evil.
Many people guilty of committing child abuse are suffering from the disease of addiction. If these people are given the opportunity to recover and rehabilitate from this illness, many of these people would be able to establish their role as suitable and worthy caregivers.
Often, people’s perception of child abuse is framed through example situations portrayed in TV programmes and films. These example situations are typically extreme examples of child abuse. In reality, child abuse is usually much subtler in nature.
For instance, the vast majority of care abuse is neither sexual nor physical in nature. Instead, the vast majority of child abuse is psychological in nature.
Roughly, there exist four types of child abuse. These include:
If you are a caregiver and you feel you could be neglecting your child due to your alcohol or drug use, then it’s likely you could benefit from undergoing addiction treatment. Continuing to abuse substances will ensure this form of child abuse will continue until your child is permanently damaged by your behaviour.
Perhaps the most effective way to overcome an addiction to drugs or alcohol is to attend a residential rehab clinic. You can learn about treatment options in your local area by contacting Rehab 4 Addiction today on 0800 140 4690 to speak to our friendly helpline advisors. Our helpline is free and utterly confidential.
You may be particularly concerned about having children if you were abused as a child yourself. Because child abuse often arises in a ‘cycle’, you may be concerned that you may abuse your own children in the same way you have abused yourself as a child.
Since the vast majority of child abuse arises due to neglect, then this is a valid concern, particularly if you feel you are dependent on drugs or alcohol in any shape or form.
Some of the ways that may help you avoid this cycle of child abuse include:
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
