Review of Studies Regarding Assessment of Families Where Children Are at Risk of Harm Due to Parental Substance Misuse

Background. The Government of one State in Australia has established a Royal Commission to investigate causes of violence and to consider introducing a whole of government approach to manage family violence. Method. This paper reviews published literature on links between parental substance misuse, family violence and parenting capacity, where literature is cited to influence policy development. Results. The main findings are that substance misuse affects parenting capacity and is associated with family violence. The review discusses the concept of cumulative risk of harm to vulnerable children. Reports indicate there is a cluster of issues that leads to parents who misuse substances being viewed as having multiple complex problems that might be too difficult to manage by therapies available in community settings. The paper reviews therapy interventions with established efficacy, suggesting that some effective interventions are overlooked as early intervention methods. Conclusion. There is scope to disseminate information about therapies that are available to intervene with parents who misuse substances. There is a need for further research to establish objective assessment instruments that are relevant for this cohort and that are widely accepted by participating disciplines.