Middle Childhood and the Early Prevention of Substance Use Disorder

Due to the ever-increasing societal problem of substance use disorders and addiction in children, there is a significant need to address this problem in a more productive and successful manner. Research has shown that substance abuse affects the mental, physical, and emotional development of the user at any age. Therefore, it is crucial for clinicians to help facilitate change by providing significant therapeutic help to children and their families at a much earlier time in a child's life. This should begin during their middle childhood when they are between 6--12 years old, to help prevent them from developing a substance use disorder. Clinicians have a duty to understand child substance abuse and promote communication between the client and their family during therapy to help prevent future substance abuse. Studies show that adolescents are becoming substance users, but clinicians can participate in deterring this growing problem by addressing this topic early, during a child's middle childhood stage, to help decrease adolescent and adult substance use disorders. This dissertation includes a discussion of the literature on substance use disorders, child development, middle childhood developmental norms, cultural norms, therapeutic strategies, intergenerational trauma, the importance of family, and the effects and consequences of substance use on an individual and their family. This dissertation also includes, a summary of responses from interviews with clinical professionals who work with individuals and families with substance use disorders to assist them in preventing early drug use through communication with their children during their middle childhood.