1
|
Ward B, Kippen R, Reupert A, Maybery D, Agius PA, Quinn B, Jenkinson R, Hickman M, Sutton K, Goldsmith R, Dietze PM. Parent and child co-resident status among an Australian community-based sample of methamphetamine smokers. Drug Alcohol Rev 2020; 40:1275-1280. [PMID: 32896037 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Children in families where there is substance misuse are at high risk of being removed from their parents' care. This study describes the characteristics of a community sample of parents who primarily smoke methamphetamine and their child or children's residential status. DESIGN AND METHODS Baseline data from a prospective study of methamphetamine smokers ('VMAX'). Participants were recruited via convenience, respondent-driven and snowball sampling. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to estimate associations between parental status; fathers' or mothers' socio-demographic, psychosocial, mental health, alcohol, methamphetamine use dependence, alcohol use and child or children's co-residential status. RESULTS Of the 744 participants, 394 (53%) reported being parents; 76% (88% of fathers, 57% of mothers) reported no co-resident children. Compared to parents without co-resident children, parents with co-resident children were more likely to have a higher income. Fathers with co-resident children were more likely to be partnered and not to have experienced violence in the previous 6 months. Mothers with co-resident children were less likely to have been homeless recently or to have accessed treatment for methamphetamine use. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of non-co-resident children was much higher than previously reported in studies of parents who use methamphetamine; irrespective of whether in or out of treatment. There is a need for accessible support and services for parents who use methamphetamine; irrespective of their child or children's co-residency status. Research is needed to determine the longitudinal impact of methamphetamine use on parents' and children's wellbeing and to identify how parents with co-resident children (particularly mothers) can be supported.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernadette Ward
- School of Rural Health, Monash University, Bendigo, Australia.,Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Rebecca Kippen
- School of Rural Health, Monash University, Bendigo, Australia
| | - Andrea Reupert
- Faculty of Education, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Darryl Maybery
- School of Rural Health, Monash University, Warragul, Australia
| | - Paul A Agius
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Brendan Quinn
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Australian Institute of Family Studies, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Rebecca Jenkinson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Australian Institute of Family Studies, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Matthew Hickman
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Keith Sutton
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,School of Rural Health, Monash University, Warragul, Australia
| | | | - Paul M Dietze
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| |
Collapse
|