Heroin addiction parents 'affect boys more severely'

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by Change | 12 Feb 2009

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Boys belonging to parents with heroin addiction problems are less likely to make a reasonable transition to adulthood than girls in similar situations.

A new study shows boys who grow up with a parent who has a heroin addiction are four times less resilient to its effects than girls, emphasising the importance of receiving rehab treatment.

Research published in the Journal of Adolescent Health defines resilience as an increased chance of making "a reasonable transition to adulthood" through getting a job or attending school and avoiding substance abuse.

Martie Skinner, lead author and research scientist with the University of Washington's Social Development Research Group, claims these boys are "very high-risk kids".

He states: "These seem like ordinary expectations, but only 30 of the 125 young adults we studied met them."

In addition, boys with a parent who engages in heroin addiction are also more likely to get in trouble with the law than their female counterparts.

Mr Skinner says the study shows the vulnerability of those with parents suffering this dependency, which suggests the importance of rehab clinic treatments for heroin addiction.

A recent survey published in Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology shows the genetic risk of developing substance addiction problems can be negated through good parenting.

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