Mental health needs for children of parents seeking help for substance abuse

Abstract

A survey of 101 new offenders at a regional drug and alcohol service found that 46 adults had a total of 88 children at home. Twenty-three children were considered by their carers to show signs of emotional or behavioural disturbance. Difficulties had only been discussed with professionals in a minority of cases. Help for troubled children from primary care services was preferred to secondary services. Closer liaison between child psychiatry and primary health care workers should be considered.