A newly published study in JAMA Pediatrics has found that approximately one in four children in the United States lives with at least one parent who has a substance use disorder, underscoring the widespread impact of addiction on families, the Independent reports.
The findings are based on data from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an annual report compiled by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a branch of the Department of Health and Human Services. This year’s analysis used updated criteria from the DSM-5, the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, leading to a broader identification of substance use disorders compared to previous studies that relied on the older DSM-IV standards.
The study estimates that 19 million children in the US are living in households with at least one parent experiencing a substance use disorder. This marks a notable increase from previous estimates, such as the 2022 survey that reported around 7 million children in such circumstances.
Researchers identified alcohol as the most commonly abused substance among parents, followed by cannabis, cocaine, and prescription drugs. Of those affected, 7.6 million children live with a parent who has a moderate to severe substance use disorder. Additionally, 3.4 million children are in households with a parent who has multiple substance use disorders, and around 6 million children live with a parent facing both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition.
Sean Esteban McCabe, the study’s lead author and director of the Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health at the University of Michigan, emphasized the importance of recognizing the scope of the issue.
“We know that over three-fourths of people with substance use disorders do not get treatment,” McCabe said. “And kids who are in households with parents who don’t get help are much less likely to get help themselves.”
Experts stress that children raised in environments affected by substance use face a higher risk of developing behavioral health issues and substance use disorders themselves. The study’s authors advocate for targeted interventions and increased support for these children.
Alcohol use disorder alone accounts for more than 12 million of the affected parents. Though more socially accepted, alcohol is the leading cause of substance-related deaths in the US, contributing to chronic health issues like liver disease and cancer.
The findings come amid potential changes to how substance use and mental health services are administered nationally. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has proposed a restructuring plan that would integrate SAMHSA into a new federal agency, the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA). This consolidation would merge several health-related agencies under a single umbrella, potentially impacting funding and service delivery. SAMHSA currently operates on an $8 billion budget and oversees key public health programs, including the national 988 mental health crisis line and addiction treatment initiatives.
