Parent and child co-resident status among an Australian community-based sample of methamphetamine smokers.

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.

• Authors: Bernadette Ward, Rebecca Kippen, Andrea Reupert, Darryl Maybery, Paul A Agius, Brendan Quinn, Rebecca Jenkinson, Matthew Hickman, Keith Sutton, Rachael Goldsmith, Paul M Dietze
• Journal: Drug and alcohol review (Drug Alcohol Rev) Vol. 40 Issue 7 Pg. 1275-1280 (11 2021) ISSN: 1465-3362 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 32896037 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2020 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.

Chemical References

• Methamphetamine

Topics

• Australia (epidemiology)
• Child
• Female
• Humans
• Methamphetamine
• Parents (psychology)
• Prospective Studies
• Smokers