School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
Illawarra Institute for Mental Health, School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
Drug Alcohol Rev. 2019 May;38(4):359-365. doi: 10.1111/dar.12931. Epub 2019 Apr 30.
Methamphetamine (MA) use has increased markedly over the past decade, during which time there has been an increase in children in out of home care. This study explores whether MA use in parents attending residential treatment services for substance use issues is associated with higher proportions of children living out of the home.
Data were collected from individuals attending residential treatment centres provided by the Australian Salvation Army between 2009 and 2016. Centres provide residential alcohol and other substance use treatment in a modified therapeutic community. Trained staff administered sections of the Addiction Severity Index measuring substance use, legal and parenting status, and the Mental Health Screening Form-III at intake. Data were limited to those who had at least one child under 18 years; final sample size was 2964.
Of the 2964 parents, 36.3% nominated MAs use as a primary or secondary substance of use. Between 2011 and 2016, a significantly greater proportion of parents using MAs (86.1%), had at least one child not living at home compared to those using other substances (81.3%; χ =7.95, P = 0.005). The proportion of female parents increased significantly 14.7% (2009) to 37.9% (2016; χ = 51.54, P < 0.001). Also, more males (83.7%) than females (79.6%) had a child living out of home (χ = 11.23, P = 0.01).
Given that MA use can result in increased risks of violence and neglect the increase in parents using the substance is concerning. The growing number of mothers in treatment warrants further investigation, particularly as women face inherent difficulties in seeking treatment with dependent children.
在过去的十年中，甲基苯丙胺（MA）的使用显著增加，在此期间，外出照料的儿童人数有所增加。本研究探讨了父母在参加澳大利亚救世军提供的住宅治疗服务治疗药物使用问题时是否与更多的儿童不在家生活有关。
数据是从 2009 年至 2016 年期间参加澳大利亚救世军提供的住宅治疗中心的个人收集的。该中心在改良的治疗社区中提供住宅酒精和其他物质使用治疗。经过培训的工作人员在入住时使用成瘾严重程度指数的部分内容测量物质使用、法律和父母身份以及心理健康筛查表-III。数据仅限于那些至少有一名 18 岁以下子女的人；最终样本量为 2964 人。
在 2964 名父母中，36.3%将甲基苯丙胺指定为主要或次要使用物质。在 2011 年至 2016 年期间，与使用其他物质的父母相比（81.3%），使用甲基苯丙胺的父母（86.1%）有至少一个孩子不在家的比例显著更高（χ=7.95，P=0.005）。女性父母的比例从 2009 年的 14.7%显著增加到 2016 年的 37.9%（χ=51.54，P<0.001）。此外，与女性（79.6%）相比，更多的男性（83.7%）的孩子不在家（χ=11.23，P=0.01）。
鉴于甲基苯丙胺的使用会增加暴力和忽视的风险，使用这种物质的父母数量增加令人担忧。越来越多的母亲接受治疗需要进一步调查，特别是因为女性在有依赖子女的情况下寻求治疗面临固有的困难。
