Although they can be incredibly resilient, children are also extraordinarily fragile. To thrive, they need a safe home environment where they are loved and supported, and some routine doesn’t hurt either.
But the sad reality is that far too many children are subjected to unhealthy, unstable, inconsistent, and downright dangerous living conditions, including those that involve parental substance abuse. Exposure to these conditions can be harmful to your child’s wellbeing, which is why you need to take action now to protect your child if you suspect that he or she is at risk.
The harm caused by exposure to parental substance abuse
Your first step is to understand the harm that may be caused to your child by exposure to parental substance abuse. Here are some of the risk factors:
- Increased risk of abuse and neglect
- Increased anxiety and depression
- Onset of guilt
- Excessive worrying
- Development of behavioral problems
- Poor school performance
- Sleep disruptions
- The taking on of parental responsibilities
- Self-harming behavior
These are just some of the issues that can arise. As you can see, the effects of exposure to parental substance abuse can be severe and wide-reaching.
Gathering evidence and seeking modification
The best way to protect your child from this sort of harmful environment is to seek a custody modification that limits or completely restricts the other parent’s access to your child. In order to successfully do so, you’ll need evidence to support your position.
This may mean gathering witnesses who can attest to the parental substance abuse and your child’s response to it, as well as any documentary evidence such as police reports or drug screen results.
We know that dealing with these matters can be scary and stressful, and you want action taken right now to protect your child. That’s why experienced law firms like ours stand ready to help you make the aggressive arguments that you need to protect your child.