Emotional AbuseEssay title: Emotional AbuseMary is a seven year old girl in first grade. She seems to be a normal little girl on the outside. She wants to play on a swing that another boy has already taken, so Mary orders the child to get off of it. But when he does not, she pulls the child’s leg and he falls onto the ground crying. The teacher comes running over… The signs of emotional abuse are difficult to diagnose. Since physical marks do not exist when a child is experiencing emotional maltreatment, a way to tell is by their actions (www.americanhumane.org). Children suffering from emotional abuse are subject to destructive behaviors.
As a result of parental substance abuse, the excessive use of drugs or alcohol, children who are exposed to these situations are more likely to abuse substances in the same manner. Substance abuse becomes common for children who are abused (www.childprotect.org). A child may see their parents or caregivers abusing drugs or drinking alcohol, leading them to believe those are ways to deal with their daily problems such as stress or work related issues. Studies show that approximately four out of ten cases of child maltreatment involve substance abuse (www.nccanchaf.hhs.gov). Alcohol and drugs are the only ways out of misery for children who are told everyday by people whom are supposed to love them that they are worthless.
The Problem
Many public school kids in the U.S. are exposed to very risky ways such as alcohol and drug abuse. There is a clear pattern of parents not knowing when to stop using illegal drugs, especially in situations where the children may have been exposed to a known substance abuse problem. These children are usually put in programs like the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). NIDA encourages parents to stop using and use drugs if they think they may be having problems with substance use problems (www.nida.nih.gov/drugtreatment). Of the approximately 1.6 million children of this country that have been labeled high risk for substance abuse, approximately 18 to 25 percent are exposed to drugs in utero or in a school setting, although the majority of children in this group are in school. Children in school who are exposed to drugs, including drugs that harm them, are typically more likely to go to a health care provider and may require counseling, medication, or services. Drug abuse, too, is seen by most parents as a public health problem and by many health care providers as an added risk that parents should be familiar with. In the U.S., the National Center on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (nacadamatncallife. org) reports that the prevalence of substance abuse in youth (16.3 percent) is consistent with a large percentage of the U.S. population. A recent national study reported data from a survey administered by several high school and college youth services in the spring and summer of 2008-9.
A second risk factor for substance abuse in this country is pre-school readiness. The prevalence of drug use in this country is extremely high. Children under 7 are 12 times more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol than their peers. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (www.nisa.nih.gov) reported that drug abuse and pre-school readiness among children 1 to 6 years old is much lower in the U.S. compared to any other state (www.worldpublichealth.com). Although high schools generally do allow supervised use of drugs, it was found that about 4 to 6 percent of all high school graduates are children of substance abuse, according to the National Center on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. In the country as a whole, 2.67 percent of student dropouts have been victims of abuse. In the U.S., 1.25 to 4 percent of all youth who have been found to be addicted are referred to a pediatric care center (www.nccanchadamatncallife.org).
These figures do not include those adolescents who have been diagnosed with substance abuse related health problems such as alcohol or nicotine abuse. Those individuals may be hospitalized or receive counseling but they are not likely to be served alcohol or
The Problem
Many public school kids in the U.S. are exposed to very risky ways such as alcohol and drug abuse. There is a clear pattern of parents not knowing when to stop using illegal drugs, especially in situations where the children may have been exposed to a known substance abuse problem. These children are usually put in programs like the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). NIDA encourages parents to stop using and use drugs if they think they may be having problems with substance use problems (www.nida.nih.gov/drugtreatment). Of the approximately 1.6 million children of this country that have been labeled high risk for substance abuse, approximately 18 to 25 percent are exposed to drugs in utero or in a school setting, although the majority of children in this group are in school. Children in school who are exposed to drugs, including drugs that harm them, are typically more likely to go to a health care provider and may require counseling, medication, or services. Drug abuse, too, is seen by most parents as a public health problem and by many health care providers as an added risk that parents should be familiar with. In the U.S., the National Center on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (nacadamatncallife. org) reports that the prevalence of substance abuse in youth (16.3 percent) is consistent with a large percentage of the U.S. population. A recent national study reported data from a survey administered by several high school and college youth services in the spring and summer of 2008-9.
A second risk factor for substance abuse in this country is pre-school readiness. The prevalence of drug use in this country is extremely high. Children under 7 are 12 times more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol than their peers. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (www.nisa.nih.gov) reported that drug abuse and pre-school readiness among children 1 to 6 years old is much lower in the U.S. compared to any other state (www.worldpublichealth.com). Although high schools generally do allow supervised use of drugs, it was found that about 4 to 6 percent of all high school graduates are children of substance abuse, according to the National Center on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. In the country as a whole, 2.67 percent of student dropouts have been victims of abuse. In the U.S., 1.25 to 4 percent of all youth who have been found to be addicted are referred to a pediatric care center (www.nccanchadamatncallife.org).
These figures do not include those adolescents who have been diagnosed with substance abuse related health problems such as alcohol or nicotine abuse. Those individuals may be hospitalized or receive counseling but they are not likely to be served alcohol or
Affection and attention are things children need. They definitely do not receive them when the only interaction with a parent is being told that they were a “mistake.” Consequently, a child may act out to get attention elsewhere. Talking out of turn, disrupting the classroom, or rebelling against superiors are indications of a child experiencing emotional abuse. A sign of emotional mistreatment also includes children who demonstrate delinquent behavior like animal cruelty, stealing, and starting fires (www.americanhumane.com). These kinds of disorderly and criminal behaviors are common when a child is a victim of emotional abuse.
When children are exposed to emotional maltreatment, they become either extremely passive or aggressive. Hostile and violent actions that are usually unprovoked are acts of aggression. When a child shows signs of aggression towards other children, it is very likely they will be bossy, pushy, or cruel, similar to Mary (www.nccanch.act.hhs.gov). However, a child may act the exact opposite. Being passive means reacting peacefully when responding to unfairness, like a child not caring when his/her parent gave an extremely unfair punishment such as being locked in a