For your information please find attached some useful publications from The National Advisory Committee on Drugs www.nacd.ie;

A Family Affair - Supporting children living with parental substance misuse. Report of the conference that took place in Dublin in November 2011
This conference originated from the findings of a literature review carried out by Dr. Justine Horgan, Senior Researcher National Advisory Committee on Drugs on the impact of parental substance misuse on children. The main finding of this review was that parental substance misuse can, and does, negatively impact on the health, development and welfare of children including both abuse and neglect. As children’s welfare and protection is a major governmental and societal priority, this conference was timely and the invitation by the NACD to the HSE and Alcohol Action Ireland to become co-sponsors of the conference ensured the widest possible dissemination of the findings.

Parental Substance Misuse: Addressing its Impact on Children - A Review of the Literature
Children depend on their family to meet their physical, psychological and social needs and their economic security and well-being. All of these can be jeopardised by parents misusing substances. Recognising the problems that parental substance misuse poses to the functioning of the child’s family, The National Drugs Strategy (Interim) 2009- 2016 underlines the need to target the child’s needs in relation to parental substance misuse.

Parental Substance Misuse: Addressing its Impact on Children - Key messages and recommendations from a review of the literature
This literature review, Parental Substance Misuse: Addressing its Impact on Children was prepared as part of the 2010/11 Work Programme of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, and in the context of Action 55 of the National Drugs Strategy..

Its key messages and recommendations, summarised here, are also relevant to other policy initiatives, particularly the National Children’s Strategy and the forthcoming National Data and Research Strategy on Children’s Lives and the forthcoming National Substance Misuse Strategy.