The sun light comes up and you hear a child say, "I'm so hungry," then you hear little pitter patter of footsteps running across the cold hardwood floors into the kitchen. You can hear the refrigerator door open as you hear a child's whisper, "No milk again," with sadness spreading across his little face.
A young child about 4 years old scoots a kitchen chair up against the cabinet and climbs up and stands on the kitchen counter opening up cabinets searching for food and you hear a warning coming from a sibling, "Betsy, be careful, don't fall. There is no food in the cabinets don't you remember we looked yesterday."
Betsy says as she moves her long hair out of her face with a tear in her eyes, "I know, but Mommy promised she was going to get us food." You hear sighs of disappointment as they walk slowly out of the kitchen they stop and stare and see their Mommy past out on the couch and a stranger sleeping next to her. There is empty bottles of beer, a ash tray full of cigarette butts and a burnt spoon and syringe.
One of the little children notices a bag of potato chips and runs to the coffee table and grabs it. He smiles and whispers, "There is some left we'll share it."
You hear the pitter patter of little feet running back to their bedroom.
MOMMY PROMISED SHE WOULD BUY FOOD
These words of young children you can hear echo across America. Parental substance abuse and alcohol is a major factor in child abuse and child neglect. Child abuse and neglect is on the rise America.
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Statistics say there are over 6 million children who live with at least one parent who has a drug addiction. I can say I am almost positive it is much higher. There are many people that are addicts that are under the radar which means they have never been busted or went to rehab. A reuter reports says that about 7.5 million children on average lives in a home were the parents are abusing alcohol. Of the 1.4 million children who lived in a single - parent home where the adult has a drinking issue , the overwhelming majority which is 1.1 million children lived were female - headed households.
THE 3 MAIN CAUSES FOR CHILD ABUSE ARE: SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL ILLNESS, AND ANGER - STRESS OUTLET (RELEASING ANGER/STRESS ON THE CHILDREN).
CHILD ABUSE IN AMERICA HAS INCREASED 134% SINCE 1980.
PHYSICAL ABUSE INCREASED 84% SINCE 1980
SEXUAL ABUSE INCREASED 350% SINCE 1980
EMOTIONAL ABUSE INCREASED 333% SINCE 1980
CHILD NEGLECT INCREASED 320% SINCE 1980
40% OF CONFIRMED CASES OF CHILDHOOD MALTREATMENT INVOLVED THE USE OF ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS.
AT LEAST 25% OF CHILDREN WHO DIE FROM NEGLECT OR ABUSE HAD MOTHERS WHO WERE ADDICTED TO DRUGS. CHILDREN NEGLECTED BY SUBSTANCE ABUSING PARENTS HAVE POORER PHYSICAL, INTELLECTUAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL OUTCOMES
CHILDREN FROM SINGLE PARENTS HOMES ARE AT HIGHER RISK OF ABUSE COMPARED TO CHILDREN LIVING WITH BOTH PARENTS
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VICTIMS:
49.5% OF ABUSED CHILDREN ARE BOYS
49.4% OF ABUSED CHILDREN ARE GIRLS
46 % OF ABUSED CHILDREN ARE WHITE RACE
21.9% OF ABUSED CHILDREN ARE AFRICAN RACE
12.2% OF ABUSED CHILDREN ARE HISPANIC RACE
15 % UNKNOWN
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ALMOST 5 CHILDREN DIE IN THE UNITED STATES EVERY DAY FROM THE RESULT OF CHILD ABUSE. MORE THAN 3 OUT OF 4 ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 4 YEARS OLD.
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THE NUMBER AND RATE OF FATALITIES HAVE BEEN INCREASING DURING THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
THIS IS A PICTURE OF A WOMAN ADDICTED TO DRUGS. HOW IS SHE GOING TO NURTURE A CHILD WHEN SHE IS ABUSING HERSELF?
STAY AWARE AND NOTICE WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND YOU. IF YOU SEE OR THINK A CHILD IS BEING ABUSED PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL
NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE AT 1-800- 422-4453
24 HOURS A DAY
http://www.childhelp.org/pages/help-for-kids1
http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/cyp/drugkids.htm
http://godfatherpolitics.com/4000/why-are-we-protecting-the-borders-of-other-countries-when-we-cant-protect-our-own/
http://facesofchildabuse.org/stats-facts.html
