CHILDREN OF SUBSTANCE-ABUSERS - THE LIFE EXPERIENCES OF CHILDREN OF OPIATE ADDICTS IN METHADONE-MAINTENANCE

We interviewed 70 substance abusers in methadone maintenance treatment regarding the life experiences of their 188 children. Sixty-four perc ent of the mothers reported using psychoactive drugs during their preg nancies. Eighty percent of parents reported an arrest during the time the child was growing up, 34% reported receiving treatment for an emot ional disorder, and 14% were hospitalized. Four percent of the parents reported that their children had been placed in adoptive care, 9% in foster care, and 1% had a child in a group home. Forty-one percent of the parents reported that at least one of their children repeated a gr ade in school, 19% were involved in truancy, and 30% had been suspende d from school. Twenty percent of parents reported their children's inv olvement with the law, and 17% reported drug or alcohol use. Problems with the law correlated highly with 1) being held back a grade, 2) tru ancy, 3) suspension from school, 4) expulsion from school, and 5) trea tment for alcohol or drug abuse.