According to a study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over 320,000 children in the United States lost a parent to a drug overdose between 2011 and 2021.
This study, which is the first of its kind on a national level, revealed the staggering impact of the overdose crisis on children. Dr. Emily Einstein, the chief of NIDA's Science Policy Branch and co-author of the study, mentioned that the research was motivated by similar studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the course of the ten years analyzed, 649,599 individuals between the ages of 18 and 64 lost their lives to drug overdoses. The study also highlighted that children were more likely to experience the loss of their fathers compared to their mothers.
"Revealing the Full Lives Behind Drug Use and Overdose Deaths"
One essential aspect of this specific dataset is its ability to showcase individuals who use drugs as people with complete lives," expressed Einstein. "Often, we tend to label individuals struggling with addiction or drug use solely based on that aspect, especially when a tragic overdose occurs ... Nearly half of those who succumb to overdose have a child living with them. This concrete data enables us to grasp a comprehensive understanding of an individual's entire life and the necessity to address all aspects, both regarding their addiction and in lessening the trauma endured by the children left behind."
While the study revealed that the "largest number of affected children belonged to non-Hispanic White families," it also highlighted that children in "communities of color and tribal communities were disproportionately impacted." Children with non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native parents consistently faced the loss of a parent due to overdose, with 187 per 100,000 children affected within this group. This number is more than double the rate among White and Black children, who were affected at rates of 76.5 per 100,000 children and 73 per 100,000 children, respectively.
During the examined 10-year period, the rate of children losing parents to drug overdose "more than doubled," as per the news release. This increase was evident across all racial and ethnic groups, yet children with young, non-Hispanic Black parents experienced the most significant annual rise in loss rate, with approximately a 24% increase in overdose deaths each year.
Einstein emphasized that the escalating figures underscore the overdose crisis as an "emergency of the highest order."
"Children growing up in households where their parents use drugs are at a high risk of facing environmental and biological factors that increase their likelihood of drug use," stated a researcher. "Losing a parent to an overdose only adds to their vulnerability."
A support group leader, Susan Ousterman, shared her observations of grandparents stepping in to raise grandchildren when parents struggle with substance abuse or succumb to overdoses. She emphasized the importance of discussing substance use and addiction with children without stigmatizing drug users.
"There is a lack of support available for these children," Ousterman remarked.
The study highlighted the necessity for comprehensive healthcare that addresses substance use disorders and prevention strategies to support families. The researcher stressed the importance of providing children who have lost parents to overdoses with the necessary support and psychiatric care as they mature.
"Substance use and addiction affect entire families," the researcher pointed out, underscoring the challenges parents face in disclosing their drug use and seeking help. "Improving access to care requires a holistic approach that considers the well-being of the entire family unit."
