THERE are many things that threaten the health and general well-being of children, such as alcoholic parents or parents who are drug addicts. Although parents may be functional enough to do a reasonable job providing for their children, children are still missing out on some of the fundamental traits that are needed for them to develop holistically.

To the average person, it may seem that the child is coping fine although he/she has a drug-addicted mother, and the mother herself would profess to all and sundry how much she loves and cares for her child, but the whole sorry set of circumstances should not even exist. Children should not have to witness an adult being dependent on any type of recreational drug or alcohol in order to cope with life or to ‘get by’ on a day-to-day basis.
Growing up in this type of setting will affect the child concerned in a detrimental way.

Firstly, he/she will grow with the understanding that drugs and/or alcohol is either an outlet for stress or mental anguish, or a convenient remedy that helps to deal with hardships in life, because this is the example portrayed by parents or caregivers. And secondly, as the child grows, it is likely that he/she might use the same types of ‘stimulants’ as a crutch, because they have always been, and remain, an acceptable part of their existence.

A father of two, (a son and a daughter) ‘enjoyed’ his drink to the extent that, when totally intoxicated, he would sit upstairs on his verandah and cuss. He cussed his wife, he cussed at passers-by and he became well-known in the neighbourhood for his ranting and drunken behaviour. His daughter married pretty much after leaving school and moved out, but the son stayed at home, also marrying and bringing his wife to live with him in the apartment below.

It wasn’t long before their marriage ran into problems and the son, to alleviate his unhappiness, began to drink excessively: and although he did not sit on the verandah cussing at his wife and at passers-by, he did begin to look dishevelled and down-trodden.
His wife eventually left, taking with her their then one –year-old daughter; however, she allowed him access to the child every other weekend. Unfortunately, the drink continued to take its toll on him and for the best part of each day he appeared to be inebriated as he worked from his family home as a mechanic.

In due course, the wife refused to let the child spend time with her father, much to the disappointment of the child’s grandparents and the matter is now being taken to the Family Court. The grandmother insists that her daughter-in-law is unreasonable and refuses to accept the fact that the ‘alcoholic environment’ she lives in is not conducive for a growing child. Making reference to all the toys and material accessories purchased on behalf of the child, she holds strongly that her grand-daughter is missing out on a warm and loving family setting.

Most adults who live in dysfunction do not recognise it as such and very rarely do they make a conscious decision to rise above their circumstances, or aim to do better. Children are resilient and they have no choice but to accept whatever situations (they are born into or what) they are given. Unless there is an intervention of some kind and/or the children in question are exposed to a fresh and more productive way of life, it is likely that they will follow in the footsteps of their parents or caregivers.

Many adults smoke marijuana in front of their children, because they say it is a natural herb and of course it tends to relax smokers and/or put them on a ‘high.’ However, there has been more than one story where a parent has found that their ‘joint’ seemed to move from one place to another, or it was smaller than they had imagined or, on the rare occasion, it had disappeared all-together.

That’s right, you guessed it: their child had taken up smoking marijuana and they didn’t even see it coming. There was a father who beat his nine- year- old son for stealing his ‘herbs’, rolling a ‘spliff’ and smoking it with his friends under the house. The boy was simply emulating his father, albeit in an adverse fashion.

To preserve the health and well-being of children, adults need to be cognisant of their actions around the children in their care; this goes for all adults who interact with children regularly. Children are learning more each day and even if they do not question what is going on around them, they are still making mental notes. Adults should use discretion and be respectful around, and to children.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child or you want to report child abuse you can ring the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or email childcaregy@gmail.com
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL PROTECTION