America is in the midst of an opioid epidemic. Here are some quick facts:
- In 2017, 353,000 children were removed from their homes because of their parent’s substance abuse;
- Every 25 minutes in America, a baby is born suffering from opioid withdrawal, which can mean: lower birthweight, respiratory conditions, feeding difficulties, seizures, and longer hospital stays;
- 90.4% of people in Alabama suffering from drug dependence or abuse go untreated;
- Medicaid paid 81% of the $1.5 BILLION that hospitals billed for treating infants suffering from opioid withdrawal in 2012.
The opioid epidemic has affected every community across our country. As adults continue to struggle with their addiction, families are literally torn apart. Studies show that the number of children affected by opioid use will double by 2030. In 2017, Alabama ranked #11 in rate of children affected by the opioid epidemic with 37 out of every 1,000 children being impacted. It is estimated that substance abuse and neglect account for 60% of foster care cases in Alabama.
As these children continue to come into care how do we care for them?
Here are a few suggestions:
1. Treat them as children. Children who come from substance abuse homes often have to grow up much quicker than they should. Oftentimes they become the primary caregiver of, not only themselves, but their siblings. When these children come to your home, let them be a child. Let them know they can play and have fun. Let them know that they do not have to be in charge or responsible for cleaning the house or worry about getting everyone to the school bus on time in the morning.
2. Help them discover hobbies and passions. Many of the children who come from substance abuse homes do not have real hobbies or things they are passionate about. Help them find something they love doing. Usually they do not have things they love to do because they have not had the opportunity. Help them discover who they are and what grips their heart to make them excited!
3. Show great patience. Some of these children who have had to grow up too quickly will take time to realize that they are not the parent. Their previous environment has forced them to learn to be self-independent.
4. Teach them they have value, worth, and dignity. These children are not in foster care because of something they did. They need to know that. They also need to know that they are valuable in God’s sight. These children will come into care with a low self-image and even feel a bit responsible for being in foster care. They need to know how precious they are. They need to feel that they have worth. They need to know that as beings created in God’s image they have great dignity.
Children are going to come into foster care every day because of the opioid epidemic. We only get so much time with these children to show them how precious and valuable they are. What better way to do this than to point them to Christ who gives the healing and restoration these children need?
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