Eighty percent of all child abuse and mistreatment cases are related to parental substance abuse (Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse). Substance abuse is the overindulgence or dependence on an addictive substance. Addictive parents are more likely to be abusive, whether physical or psychological and at an increased risk to lose their children to foster care. Foster care can be damaging and sets children up for failure in the real world once they are aged out of the system. Substance abusers who are already involved with some type of government assistance shouldn't be able to conceive children because they are more likely to destroy the lives of their children possibly before they get a chance to live at all.
Parents who drink alcohol and use either prescription or illegal addictive drugs destroy their families and ruin the lives of others. Pregnant women who are alcoholics can have serious effects on their babies because the drug directly affects the unborn child. These effects include a variety of birth defects damaging the central nervous system and major organs. Just like with alcohol, cocaine and marijuana cause severe disruptions to normal family life. Also like the affects of alcohol on unborn children, the use of cocaine or marijuana can cause premature birth or miscarriage. Later in life, these exposures can lead to behavioral problems as well attention disorders and hardships in academics. (Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, Children's Bureau). Those raised by substance abusers have a high likelihood of following patterns set by their parents. As they reach teenage years, they may become withdrawn from groups and peers along with engaging in risky behaviors that they would not normally participate in. Along with all the other home problems associated with substance abuse, children are most affected by emotional trauma and violence. .
Studies have also shown a direct connection between substance abuse and domestic violence.