Billie Holiday once said, "In this country, don't forget, a habit (addiction) is no damn private hell. A habit is hell for those you love. And in this country, it's the worst kind of hell for those who love you." Although Holiday was not speaking directly about children, her words surely describe the effects that parents with addictions have on their children (Chandler). Studies show that these children are not only at greater risk of death because of neglect, but are also at risk of having their personalities negatively altered from the moment they are conceived (Bowles). Additionally, children of addicts are faced with physical and mental health problems throughout their lives. .
This problem is compounded in African American communities because of racial stereotypes, which portray the typical drug addict as a black junkie. This portrayal is used to rationalize targeting blacks for drug crimes and giving them disproportionate sentences compared to whites. This practice only perpetuates the stereotype. .
The fact that the parents of a twenty-three month old baby boy could be addicted to dangerous drugs shows the prevalence and seriousness of chemical addictions. BBC News Bristol's newscast, indicated that exactly one month before Jayden Green's second birthday, he was found dead in his parents' bedroom due to a methadone overdose. According to BBC, the parents' of the toddler were both drug addicts who were prescribed methadone to reduce the effects of their addiction to heroin. As a result of Jayden's death, the father was found guilty of manslaughter for purposely giving him the drug in hopes of sedating him. Medical tests performed after the baby's death revealed Jayden's father purposely gave him the methadone drug in hopes of sedating him. In the article it states that he was given the Methadone on multiple occasions. This story shows how impaired peoples judgment can be as a result of drug addiction.