The impact of parental problem drug use on children: what is the problem and what can be done to help?

AIM: To review the literature on the impact of parental problem drug use on children, and indicate the efficacy of key evaluated interventions to reduce the impact of parental drug use on children.
METHODS: Comprehensive narrative review of English language published research and intervention spanning the last three decades identified through searching library databases and citation.
FINDINGS: Problem drug use can impede parenting and the provision of a nurturing environment. Although small-scale, localized and resource-intensive these key evaluated interventions show cautious optimism that problem drug-using parents can reduce drug use and achieve better family management. Children have rarely been directly the focus of intervention.
CONCLUSIONS: Wider application and more rigorous evaluation of interventions in this area are needed. Given the scale of the problem it is important to establish how statutory services can apply the lessons of these more localized interventions.