A common cause of child neglect is the abuse of mind-altering substances, according to Drugs.com. The parent is overly focused on her need to find and use mind-altering substances that she does not properly care for her child. In addition, appropriate parental care is impossible during those times when the adult actively is intoxicated or high.
Types
A variety of mind-altering substances lead to child neglect, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These include legal products, such as alcoholic beverages. Misuse of prescription medications can result in child neglect. Finally, the use of illegal mind-altering substances is the root cause of child neglect, as well.
Time Frame
The onset of the neglect of children due to substance abuse varies. For example, neglectful behavior by an abuser of alcohol may develop over a more extended period of time. On the other hand, a person abusing street drugs may become neglectful of parental duties quicker because of the need to spend time finding the desired substance or obtaining a fix.
Features
The features of child neglect arising out of parental substance abuse include lack of attention to a child's nutritional needs, lack of supervision or inattention to the child's medical and educational needs, according to Note Alone. Typically, a combination of these factors appears in a case of neglect arising from a parent's abuse of mind-altering substances.
Misconceptions
A common misconception is that a parent abusing substances may neglect a child but rarely escalates to active abusive behavior. In fact, neglect of a child often precedes overt abuse by a parent using mind-altering substances. A parent will physically, emotionally or psychologically abuse her child when intoxicated or high or when frustrated by a lack of the preferred mind-altering substance she uses.
Expert Assistance
A parent who abuses mind-altering substances and neglects his child as consequence simply may be unable to stop this behavior without professional intervention, assistance and treatment, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Depending on the extent and duration of the problem, either in-patient or out-patient treatment is the recommended course. The child also likely requires counseling or therapy as a result of the neglect and conduct of the parent.
Warning
A child who experiences neglect at the hands of a substance abusing parent is far more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs herself, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Substance abuse and child neglect becomes a cycle that carries on from one generation to the next.
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