Variation by race and ethnicity in the prevalence and trends of parental opioid misuse in child welfare: findings from the Regional Partnership Grant-1

• Published in: Journal of public child welfare Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 28 - 47
• Main Authors: He, Amy S., Phillips, Jon D., Sedivy, Jennifer A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 01.01.2022; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: African Americans; American Indians; Child welfare; Children; Drug use; Ethnicity; Hispanic Americans; Narcotics; Opioids; parental opioid misuse; Parents & parenting; Race; race and ethnicity; Substance abuse; Substance abuse treatment; substance use; Substance use disorder; Trends; Well being
• ISSN: 1554-8732; 1554-8740
• DOI: 10.1080/15548732.2020.1798325

Given the harmful effects of parental opioid use on child well-being, this study explored the prevalence and trends of opioid misuse among 11,457 child welfare-involved parents participating in substance use disorder treatment through the Regional Partnership Grant-1 (2007-2012). Prevalence and trends of opioid misuse were examined for the sample overall and by race and ethnicity. Most of the parents were White (69%) and 31% were parents of color (12.4% African Americans, 8.5% Hispanic, 6.1% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 4.1% multiracial/other). Almost one-quarter of the sample (21.9%) reported opioid misuse. Although the percentage of all parents participating in treatment due to opioid misuse increased annually by 11% between 2007 and 2012, trends varied significantly by parental race/ethnicity. For example, White and American Indian/Alaskan Native parents showed a significant annual increase in the likelihood of opioid misuse (12% and 43%, respectively); no significant annual increases were found among other parents of color. Findings from this study highlight the need for ongoing programmatic efforts and research to capture prevalence and trends of parental opioid misuse in the child welfare system, especially as it relates to parental race/ethnicity. Implications for targeted substance use disorder and opioid misuse treatment needs are discussed.