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The Opioid Epidemic: Impact on Children and Families
... Estimates place approximately eight million children living with at least one adult with substance use disorder (SUD), a disorder impacting many parents addicted to opioids (Dirks, 2018). ...
... The risk of student trauma is increasing due to the reported rising opioid mortality rate in our communities (Edelman, 2017;Stulac et al., 2019). This increased student risk means that teachers who respond to student trauma are potentially at prolonged and continuous risk for developing secondary traumatic stress (Dirks, 2018;Motta, 2015;Schepers, 2017). In Figure 1-1, the process of STS is demonstrated, showing the impact on both the student and the teacher. ...
People who support others who have experienced trauma, like nurses, doctors, social workers, or first responders can sometimes be affected by a type of stress called secondary traumatic stress (STS). Although the effect of STS has been studied in helpers like social workers and medical professionals, the prevalence and characteristics of STS in teachers have not been studied extensively and are less understood. Schools in our communities impacted by the opioid epidemic also report additional stressors from issues like addiction, overdose, crime, neglect, rise in foster care, increased medical care, and death. This dissertation investigates STS in K-12 public school teachers in the United States, in areas of varying opioid impact. Specifically, K-12 teachers (n = 450), in 26 states and Washington, D. C., were surveyed utilizing a validated instrument for secondary traumatic stress (Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale; Bride, Robinson, Yegidis, & Figley, 2004), along with demographic questions and open-ended questions. Teachers were also asked about adverse childhood experiences of their students, using the PHL-ACE categories (Health Federation of Philadelphia and Philadelphia ACE Research and Data Committee, 2012). The prevalence and extent of teacher STS were explored in communities of low-, medium-, and high-opioid impact levels as defined by the National Institute of Health epidemiology parameters. I used descriptive statistics and correlations (Spearman’s Rho) to determine the prevalence of STS in the sample of teachers and to determine if this prevalence had any relationship to the opioid mortality rate in communities. Over half of the teachers in the VII study (59.56%) experienced STS at a moderate or higher level. Teachers in high opioid zones reported the highest mean STSS scores (M = 43.78, SD = 16.00), with 62.67% scoring at 38 or higher. Over 85% of teachers endorsed intrusion symptoms at a diagnostic level. Between 91-93% of all teachers surveyed endorsed adverse events experienced by their students. Using Spearman’s Rho correlation, I did not find a relationship between the environment of the opioid zone or the demographic characteristics of the teachers. Additional findings and implications are discussed and support the need to continue teacher STS research in all communities.
... 72 Ultimately, the FDA's inadequate regulation of OxyContin magnified the lasting detrimental effects of the opioid epidemic on U.S. society that linger today. The financial burden alone is staggering, magnified by the extended monopoly Purdue exercised over OxyContin, but this only tells half the tale: stories of opioid abuse permeate myriad families across the U.S. 73 As great a detriment as the FDA's alleged over-regulation of pharmaceuticals was during the HIV/AIDS crisis, the FDA's under-regulation of opioids shows how great an injury can be imposed by the opposite problem. ...
This Paper provides a normative commentary on the FDA’s institutional evolution, informed by the FDA’s role in regulating pharmaceuticals during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the opioid epidemic, and the current COVID-19 epidemic.
Nearly 20% of adults receiving treatment for a substance use disorder live with their minor children (Stanger et al., 1999) and women in drug use treatment are twice as likely as men to have children in their household (Wechsberg et al., 1998). Parental drug use impacts the family through reduced family resources such as money and food, and researchers consistently note parenting deficits among substance users (Solis, Shadur, Burns, & Hussong, 2012). Little is known about differences in parenting and mother–child interaction among mothers with different drugs of choice or among mothers of older children, between 8 and 16 years. This study reports the findings from a sample of treatment seeking opioid, alcohol and cocaine using mothers and their 8–16-year-old child. Findings from a mother–child observational task and self-reported parenting measure indicated less undermining autonomy and higher mother maternal acceptance among opioid compared to alcohol addicted mothers. African American mothers were observed to have fewer negative interactional behaviors than Whites and both African American mothers and children self-reported higher firm control and maternal acceptance. Overall, mothers appeared to struggle with effective discipline with older versus younger children. Findings offer useful information to clinicians seeking to effectively tailor their interventions to women and children who present with different drugs of abuse, race/culture and developmental stage of child.
The effects of a substance use disorder (SUD) are felt by the whole family. The family context holds information about how SUDs develop, are maintained, and what can positively or negatively influence the treatment of the disorder. Family systems theory and attachment theory are theoretical models that provide a framework for understanding how SUDs affect the family. In addition, understanding the current developmental stage a family is in helps inform assessment of impairment and determination of appropriate interventions. SUDs negatively affect emotional and behavioral patterns from the inception of the family, resulting in poor outcomes for the children and adults with SUDs. Social workers can help address SUDs in multiple ways, which are summarized in this article.
Prescription opioids: A growing epidemic of abuse
- B Blozen
Blozen B. Prescription opioids: A growing epidemic of abuse. Journal of American Nurses 8 (2013): 38-43.
Health Day Reporter: Opioid addicted babies may struggle with learning
- D Thompson
Thompson D. Health Day Reporter: Opioid addicted babies may struggle with learning (2017).
Born addicted: The number of opioid addicted babies is soaring
- H Rappleye
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Rappleye H, McHugh R, Farrow R. Born addicted: The number of opioid addicted babies is soaring (2017).