Integration of Parenting Skills Education and Interventions in Addiction Treatment

Abstract

Objectives Children of parents with substance use disorders are at risk for a variety of adverse outcomes, and maladaptive parenting behaviors appear to be an important mediator of this risk. Although numerous research studies have highlighted the promise of parenting interventions in modifying parenting behavior, very little is known about the integration of parenting skills education and interventions into addiction treatment programs. Methods In this study, a convenience sample of 125 addiction treatment programs in the U.S. was drawn. A key staff member was interviewed to gather basic information about the extent and nature of parenting skills education interventions offered at their program. In addition, respondents were asked to rate the importance of parenting skills relative to other addiction treatment priorities. Results Descriptive analyses revealed 43% reported some form of parenting classes, but few used a structured curriculum. Conclusions Given the known beneficial influence of effective parenting practices on reducing adverse childhood outcomes, it is surprising that relatively few substance abuse treatment programs have adopted structured parenting skills interventions as part of their standard service offerings. More research is warranted on the extent to which parenting skills interventions are integrated into the continuum of services available to parents with a substance use disorder.

El Impacto del Tratamiento por Consumo de Drogas en el Desarrollo de Competencias Parentales: ¿un Potencial de Intervención Infravalorado?

“…acuerdo con las necesidades evolutivas y educativas de los hijos e hijas y con los estándares considerados como aceptables por la sociedad, aprovechando todas las oportunidades y apoyos que les brindan los sistemas de influencia de la familia para desplegar dichas capacidades (p. 115). La evidencia internacional señala que el insuficiente desarrollo de CP se relaciona con el desarrollo de comportamientos nocivos hacia los hijos, incluso maltrato infantil (Akin y Gomi, 2017;Arria et al, 2013;Moreland y McRae-Clarck, 2018). En el caso de Chile, Contreras et al (2018) señalan que padres y/o cuidadores con incapacidad para el desarrollo de estrategias disciplinarias establecen inadecuadas rutinas y rituales, déficit en el apoyo mutuo, recreación y juego familiar, deficiencias en las relaciones familiares y sociales y prácticas maltratantes, como un insuficiente resguardo de la higiene y alimentación.…”

Highlighting the Role of Cognitive and Brain Reserve in the Substance use Disorder Field

“…This result coincides with Falkin and Strauss [189] who found that immediate family, especially mothers, had an important role as sources of recovery support. Owing to the key involvement of parents as social support, parenting skills interventions promoting adequate levels of monitoring and supervision, parent disapproval of underage drinking, high-quality parentchild interactions, low family conflict, and general communication could have a positive impact on reducing or mitigate adolescence substance consumption [190]. Concerning this issue, it was found that a group therapy program for opioiddependent adolescents and their parents had successful completion rates [191].…”

Parenting and Concerns of Pregnant Women in Buprenorphine Treatment

“…Nurses play a pivotal role in identifying culturally appropriate parenting education programs in the community that can be offered to women who are accepting of such a referral. We strongly recommend that these programs be a part of an integrative approach to addictions treatment for pregnant women to improve the mother-infant relationship and to promote the ability of the mother to confidently care for her newborn (Arria et al, 2013; Paiva et al, 2012). Our preliminary data suggest that primary areas of need during pregnancy are education on parenting skills (particularly in the areas of child development, expectations of the child, empathy for children, child-parent roles, alternatives to corporal punishment, and children’s power and independence), risk of NAS for infants born to mothers who receive office-based buprenorphine treatment for opioid dependence, and proper care of a child with NAS.…”