Parenting Today: Which cause of child maltreatment is most difficult to address?

There are many different causes of child maltreatment. Drug and substance abuse is the
most difficult cause of child maltreatment to treat. Most children are brought up by parents who
abuse drugs and use alcohol. Children who are brought up by parents and caregivers who abuse
drugs are likely to experience cases of child maltreatment. Treatment of drug and substance
abuse is complicated and may take a long time. Many parents also relapse in the process of
treating their addiction. The problem of drug abuse is widespread, further complicating the
process of addressing the underlying drug problem. The cost of treating substance and drug
abuse is also high, and this means that most families cannot afford the treatment.
Which one(s) is/are most amenable to intervention?
One that is most amenable to intervention is having unrealistic expectations of the child
and underlying psychological conditions. A parent can easily be counseled, and this would solve
the problems related to unrealistic expectations as well as psychological problems.
If you had the power to enact policies, what would be your contribution towards
eliminating child maltreatment issues?
I would ensure that all parents with drug-related problems get the necessary help. I would
also be keen to ensure that there are counseling services accorded to children who have
experienced incidences of maltreatment. I would fund the drug rehabilitation problems to ensure
that the number of parents with drug-related problems reduce substantially. I have observed that
the number of parents who have drug abuse and substance disorders is on the rise. It is, therefore,

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imperative that a policy is developed to address this problem. The lack of a clear framework has
compounded the problem.