The Ripple Effects of Opioid Misuse

Extended Impacts of Opioid Misuse

We often talk about how things like addiction, stigma, or life-threatening overdose can harm a person with an opioid use disorder. Opioid addiction also affects people who are not currently misusing any substances, but who know somebody with an opioid use disorder. The impact on loved ones is sometimes called the “ripple effect.”

Here are some ways that opioid misuse can impact an entire community:

Children

When children live in a home where opioids or other drugs are misused, they are more likely to experience trauma-related health problems later in life.¹ Growing up in a home with drug misuse is classified as an Adverse Childhood Experience (or “ACE”). ACEs are stressful, traumatic events that raise a child’s risk of many long-term health issues. For example, a 2019 CDC report estimated that nearly 2 million cases of coronary heart disease and 21 million cases of depression “would have been potentially avoided by preventing adverse childhood experiences.”¹

To be clear, ACEs include many other kinds of traumatic events as well. Opioid misuse in the home is just one of many factors that contribute to trauma-related health problems. And just because a child has witnessed drug misuse at home does not mean he or she will definitely have heart disease or depression later. Any ACEs increase a child’s risk for future health problems. But protective factors – like a supportive relationship with an adult – can enable a child to thrive in the face of hardship.

Pregnancy and Newborn Infants

Opioid use during pregnancy can affect both the mother and her child in the womb. Babies who are exposed to opioids in the womb may show signs of withdrawal in the first few days after birth. This is called Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), which can involve vomiting, tremors, sleep problems, seizures, and other symptoms. Opioid misuse by pregnant mothers has also been linked to preterm birth and stillbirth.² Opioid-related NAS occurs after being exposured to opioids long-term, so opioids that are given by a doctor at the time of delivery do not cause NAS.

Foster Parenting and Kinship Care

Sadly, opioid misuse and addiction sometimes cause parents to be unable to take care of their children. In situations like these, children may be placed the foster care system. The US Children’s Bureau estimates that drug misuse by parents contributed to 35% of all cases where a child was placed in foster care in 2020.³

Although many children are placed in foster care, others are cared for by extended family members outside of formal foster care. This is known as kinship care. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives fall into this category if they give primary support and care for a child without the parent being present. According to the non-profit group Grandfamilies.org, more than 62,000 grandparents were responsible for their grandchildren in Virginia as of 2021.⁴ Both foster parenting and kinship parenting can be challenging, but resources for help are available! NewFound Families Virginia has a list of state-wide resources on their website: click here

Opioid misuse affects everyone in our community. Even if you do not personally know somebody harmed by opioids, the collective impacts and costs to our society are very real. We can all help build a healthier community by staying informed, continuing to learn, and helping each other. To learn more…

• • • Visit Family Wellness Roanoke to learn about local efforts to strengthen families: https://www.fwroanoke.org/
    • Read facts about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on the CDC’s website: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/fastfact.html
    • Check out national resources for foster parenting and kinship care at Grandfamilies.org
    • Get involved with RAYSAC to promote youth wellness! Email raysacorg@gmail.com or click the Volunteer link above.

References:

1. Merrick, M.T., Ford, D.C., Ports, K.A., et al. (2019). Vital Signs. Estimated Proportion of Adult Health Problems Attributable to Adverse Childhood Experiences and Implications for Prevention — 25 States, 2015–2017. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 68(44): 999-1005. http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6844e1

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). About Opioid Use During Pregnancy. https://www.cdc.gov/pregnancy/opioids/basics.html

3. Children’s Bureau, under the US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. (2021). AFCARS Report: Preliminary estimates for FY 2020 as of October 4, 2021.  https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cb/afcarsreport28.pdf

4. Grandfamilies.org. (July 2021). Virginia GrandFacts State Fact Sheet.  http://www.grandfamilies.org/Portals/0/State%20Fact%20Sheets/Virginia%20GrandFacts%20State%20Fact%20Sheet%2007.21%20Update.pdf

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