Trauma Informed Care & Opioid Use Disorder

The Impact of Parental Substance Misuse on Caregivers and Caregiving Relationships

Parental substance misuse is not uncommon and can impact both the caregiver and the caregiver’s ability to provide care for their infants and children. Biologically, the capacity to care is associated with several neural pathways in the brain. Stress and substance use are also associated with neural pathways. When these pathways are activated, they can adversely affect the pathways affecting caregiving. This presentation reviews the interrelationships between the stress, substance use, and caregiving pathways.

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Patrick Jones - Course author
Meet the instructor

Jessica Griffin, PsyD

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics
Executive Director, Child Trauma Training Center
Executive Director, Resilience Through Relationships Center
University of Massachusetts Medical School

Heather Forkey, MD

Professor of Pediatrics

Chief of the Division of Child Protection
Director of the Child Protection Program and Foster Children Evaluation Services
U Mass Memorial Children's Medical Center


The speakers have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.*

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
    • Identify three strategies to use with caregivers regarding developing safe and stable nurturing relationships.
    • Describe the role of the brain in parenting and how parental substance misuse can impact neural pathways and brain function.
    • Describe how parental substance misuse can impact children and identify resources to help support children and families.

Course Content

Planning Committee

No one in control of content has any relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.*

Course Information

This webinar was recorded on September 22, 2021.

The review date for this course is October 6, 2028.

*Ineligible companies are those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, reselling, or distributing health care products used by or on patients.