CHILD-ABUSE RISE LINKED TO PARENTS' DRUG USE

Parental drug and alcohol abuse is largely responsible for a surge in
child abuse and neglect, according to a report that urges more
government spending to treat addicted parents.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse said in its
report Monday that providing treatment for addicted parents would
reduce the need to remove children from their families.

The study notes that the number of child welfare cases has more than
doubled in 10 years, to more than 3 million in 1997, from 1.4 million
in 1986.

The study includes results from a survey of 915 professionals who work
in the child welfare system. The survey found that 71.6 percent cited
substance abuse as one of the top three causes of the rise in reported
cases of child abuse and neglect, followed by better reporting and
poverty.