Alcohol and drug abuse is the number one cause of violence against children across the globe, a new study performed by the World Health Organization has found. The National Society for Human Rights reviewed the WHO's findings with plans of launching an awareness campaign with regard to child abuse and learned that a startling 97 percent of violent acts against children in families worldwide were committed by individuals who were addicted to drugs or alcohol. Other factors leading to violence against children in addition to alcohol and drug abuse were poverty, unemployment and lack of education.
These findings can fuel an already ugly cat and mouse game as being in a lower income bracket, losing one's job and falling victim to the pressures of society can increase an individual's likelihood to abuse drugs and alcohol on their own. Just like those children who grew up in households where alcohol and drug abuse was prevalent are more likely to develop their own problems with substance abuse later in life, a person who grew up in a household where violence against children took place is increasingly likely to abuse their own children. Poverty and the loss of employment are known to lead to additional problems within the family. Oftentimes members of these families will not possess the skills to channel their frustrations in a functional manner and their shortened temper can overwhelm them and they take it out on their children. Lack of education also plays a pivotal role as the study reported that uneducated people tend to resort to violence as an acceptable method of solving their problems, so violence against children is not that difficult of a leap. Adding the elements of alcohol and drug abuse to these already potentially dangerous and disastrous circumstances is similar to the act of throwing gasoline onto a blazing fire.
Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Child Victims
In addition to genetics and family history, past physical abuse has the profound effect of increasing an individual's disposition towards substance abuse. People who were victims of child abuse and sexual assault have an alarming rate of developing problems with alcohol and drug abuse. With violence against children increasing around the globe, this can only spell disaster for future generations as they try to battle their childhood demons the best that they can, which sadly may result in increased addiction rates.
