Medication assisted drug treatment and child well-being

Opiate addiction is a major problem in our society in terms of its impact on children and families. Families affected by opiate addiction are often among the most vulnerable and exhibit many of the most challenging problems faced by child welfare workers. However, there are medications, such as Methadone and Buprenorphine shown to be effective in reducing opiate dependency. This manuscript is a comprehensive review of the evidence base on the consequences of maternal use of medication assisted drug treatment (MADT) on child well-being. An extensive literature search was conducted via Medline (Pub Med), Sociological Abstracts, Social Services Abstracts, and PsycINFO for the years 1980–2005. Over 200 studies were reviewed. Of these, findings from more than 100 studies are summarized in this review, leading to key recommendations for child welfare practitioners, policy makers and researchers concerned with protecting the safety and well-being of children of opiate-dependent parents.