More support needed for parents who use methamphetamine
The VMAX survey, published in Drug and Alcohol Review and led by Dr Bernadette Ward from the Monash University School of Rural Health, has looked at parents in metro and rural Victoria who smoke methamphetamines and in particular the residential status of their children, finding seventy six per cent did not have any of their children living with them, which is much higher than previously reported.
The path to seeking services is often complex with findings suggesting that parents, whose children did not live with them, were more likely to seek treatment. This may be in the hope of being reunited, while others delayed, may be fearful of child custody loss. The stigma associated with being a mother who uses methamphetamine was also a factor.
Crucially, compared to parents who use other substances, those who use methamphetamine are more likely to have attempted suicide, experienced depression, nightmares and flashbacks and have high levels of parenting and psychological distress. Their children are at increased risk of poorer academic, behavioural, emotional and social outcomes. Prenatal methamphetamine exposure has also been associated with children’s externalising behaviour problems at 5 years of age.
Interestingly, more than half of the parents in the study experienced moderate to severe anxiety and depression. These levels were not significantly different for parents with or without co-resident children, but are very high compared to those reported in the 2017–2018 Australian health survey for the general Australian population, highlighting the importance of mental health support for this group.
“It is absolutely critical that we understand when to intervene to ensure the wellbeing of both parents and their children,” Dr Ward said.
“By deepening our understanding of the long-term patterns of methamphetamine users, what factors play a role in their decisions to access support and what support they are looking for, will enable us to further improve services,” Dr Ward said.
Read the full paper in Drug and Alcohol Review titled: "Parent and child co-resident status among an Australian community-based sample of methamphetamine smokers" DOI:10.1111/dar.13155