It is well known that children in homes where addiction is present are at great risk of having substance use disorders and lifelong mental health problems. Targeting these families is not only a priority treatment and recovery concern but an efective prevention strategy as well. To prevent mental and substance use disorders, it is critical to work directly with the family environments in which these disorders originate. This show will delve into the relationship of addiction and trauma, acknowledging th elong-term impacts on children and families. Children of parents with alcohol or drug addictions (including parents with these disorders who are incarcerated) commonly become involved with child welfare and foster care systems, creting additional long-term challenges. Strategies for identifying and working with troubled families to break the cycle of addiction will be presented.
