Substances (Children of Substance Abusers), Childhood

Abstract

Children of alcoholics (COAs) and other substance-abusing parents are considered to be at high risk because there is a greater likelihood that they will develop alcoholism or substance abuse, as well as a range of other psy-chosocial problems. Children of substance-abusing parents (COSAPs) are especially vulnerable to the risk for maladap-tive behavior because they have combinations of many risk factors present in their lives. The single most potent risk factor is their parent’s substance-abusing behavior. This single risk factor can place children of substance abusers (COSAs) at biological, psychological, and environmental risk. Research reports that COAs and other substance abusers are at risk for cognitive, psychological, biological, or neuropsy-chological deficits. Not surprisingly, the findings of these diverse studies are inconsistent; thus, a unified concept of risk for alcoholism or substance abuse has not yet emerged. This entry reviews primary prevention efforts to promote healthy development in COSAPS.