Chuck Noerenberg, State Drug Policy Coordinator

Most of us cannot imagine neglecting or abusing a child –it breaks our heart and makes us angry at the same time.   Unfortunately, parents and other caregivers who abuse drugs or alcohol, and especially those in the grips of addiction, often lose their instincts and ability to care for and nurture children.  In such situations, children become innocent victims and their worlds cease to make sense.  They are filled with fear and uncertainty, and they suffer the risk of emotional or physical abuse.  A child who would normally face each day with a sense of wonder and hope instead must create his/her own set of rules to try to navigate the irrationality and danger of the circumstances.  In too many cases, this involves turning to abuse of drugs and alcohol themselves, establishing an on-going cycle of mistreatment of self and others.
     A 2005 Study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) found that nearly 13% of children in the United States live with a parent or other adult who uses illegal drugs.  This adds up to about 9.2 million drug endangered children.  In addition, 24% of children – about 17 million - live in a household where a parent or other adult is a binge or heavy drinker of alcohol. Not all of these children are neglected or abused, but CASA estimates that substance abuse is a factor in 70% of all reported cases of child maltreatment.  According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in 2006, 9.8% of youths age 12-17 were current illicit drug users.  An estimated 1.62 million persons under age 18 tried illicit drugs for the first time in 2006 and 4.0% of pregnant women ages15-44 reported illicit drug use.

These stark numbers provide a glimpse of the risks faced by children throughout the country.  Rescuing and protecting children endangered by substance abuse is the primary goal of the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children.  This data demonstrates why this is a compelling and urgent mission for all of us.