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The Howard Center for Human Services First Call for Children and Families |
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First Call |
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The Howard Center for Human Services First Call for Children and Families |
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First Call |
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THE ELEVENTH PRINCIPLE KNOW WHAT THE RISK FACTORS ARE The following risk factors have been associated with higher probability of child/adolescent psychopathology, including substance abuse. 1) Non-nurturing parent-child interactions; 2) Chronic conflict and disruptions in the family; 3) Depressed, anxious, critical, emotionally distant mothers; 4) Fathers with antisocial personality disorder; 5) Family history of alcoholism; 6) Substantially lower social and economic status; 7) Early psychiatric or serious behavior problems; 8) Very low self-esteem or sense of low personal competence; 9) High chronic stress and poor psychological coping skills: 10) Incest or sexual abuse in childhood; 11) Severe depression, anxiety and angry reactivity in childhood; 12) Severe conduct disorder behaviors in childhood; 13) Ritualistic emotional or physical abuse in childhood; 14) Serious lack of empathy towards animals in early childhood; 15) Substance abusing models, especially parents and family; 16) Academic failure early in one's school career; 17) Close association with substance abusing peers; 18) Early age of onset for substance abuse; 19) Extreme shyness and social isolation in childhood; 20) Early "gang" associations and membership; 21) Pro-substance use attitudes early in life; 22) Over use of prescription medications; 23) Sensation seeking personality traits; and, 24) Early and high level self-medicating behaviors.
HELPFUL HINTS FOR PARENTS If your son or daughter exhibits even a few of these clinical risk factors, act quickly and meaningfully. Obtain professional consultation about what to do next. Often a clinical assessment from a professional skilled in child development will be helpful. Participation in a parent support group is almost always helpful.
HELPFUL SOURCES OF INFORMATION Bry, B.H. et.al. (1992). Extent of drug use as a function of the number of risk factors. Journal of Abnormal Psychology,91, 273-279; Hawkins, J.D. (1992). Risk factors for adolescent substance abuse. Psychological Bulletin,112(1), 64-105; and, Miller, N.S. (1994). Treating Coexisting Psychiatric and Addictive Disorders. Center City, MN; Hazelden, pp. 85-110. |
