The Effects of Family Violence and Drug Abuse on Children

Family or domestic violence refers to an individual's use of any form of physical, emotional or psychological means to control his partner or other family members. One-fourth to one-half of the abusing men become violent in association with drug or alcohol abuse. About three million children every year witness violent abuse on their mothers, and 30 to 40 percent of them are likely to behave violently in their own families as adults.

Unsafe Environment

• Children who witness violence in their households develop a deep feeling of insecurity. Their homes, where they are supposed to be loved and cared for, suddenly become an unsafe environment for them. They feel frustrated and helpless, as they cannot do anything to stop violence inflicted by one or more adults. Children can also recognize when a parent has a drinking or a drug abuse problem, even when the user thinks that his habit is a secret. Even if the adult usually blames drugs or alcohol for his conduct, his violent behavior can be traumatic for his children in many ways.

Emotional Symptoms

• Children living in a violent environment at home develop a series of emotional problems according to their age. While preschool children may express their anxiety by having tantrums and wetting the bed, some school-age children may better cope with a violent situation at home if they have family members they are willing to talk to. However, symptoms of their exposure to abuse can be the presence of eating and sleeping disorders, manifestations of aggressiveness and anxiety and displays of hopelessness and anger. Their preoccupation with the violent events decreases their ability to concentrate, which results in poor academic performance and deterioration of their relationships with peers.

Children as Victims

• Besides being witnesses of domestic violence, children can themselves be victims. Around 80 percent of child abuse cases are related to substance abuse by their parents. According to the National Center for Children Exposed to Violence (NCCEV), "domestic violence has been found to be the single most common precursor to child death in the United States." If one parent is a substance abuser, it is more likely that parent won't be able to protect a child from being hurt by the other parent.

Long-Term Effects

• Experiencing violence and drug abuse in the family may have long-term effects on children. According to the NCCEV, they are at risk of developing lower intellectual functions than the non-abused children; they are also more likely to develop an addiction to drugs or alcohol and neglect their own children. Some abused children become bullies at school and terrorize younger children, and they can also experience other problems in the future, such as legal, medical, social and financial issues.