 Drug endangered children (DEC) are children who suffer physical or emotional harm as a result of illegal drug use, manufacturing, cultivation or distribution. These harms can include: physical abuse; emotional abuse; sexual abuse; and neglect, including failure to nurture, supervise, or provide meals, sanitary and safe living conditions, schooling and medical care.
The primary challenge with illegal substance abuse and DEC is in coordinating the social and political systems charged with preventing, intervening, and treating these cases. The number, complexity, and difficult behavior-change challenges of these cases burden practitioners and the community. These challenges include lack of:
- Community awareness
- A comprehensive and unifying strategy
- Appropriate and accessible treatment intervention
- Prevention programs (particularly targeting high risk populations)
- Collaborative and coordinated efforts between disciplines that have different roles, responsibilities and perspectives
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