Last week the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) released, Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder May Reduce Substantiated Cases of Child Abuse and Neglect. The report, which builds on earlier analysis by ASPE regarding substance use and the child welfare system, indicated that increased treatment capacity predicts decreased rates of substantiated abuse or neglect, suggesting treatment is effective in reducing immediate risk to children, but the report also pointed out that children with unsubstantiated maltreatment are still at risk if supportive services are not provided.
While the report raises questions and suggests additional research and information is needed, it offers four broad points:
- Changes in buprenorphine patient capacity have no relationship with the number of children reported to child protective services.
- Increased treatment capacity predicts decreased rates of low-risk maltreatment cases. These cases receive supportive services – known as alternative response – rather than intrusive investigations and child welfare systems involvement. This is in line with expert recommendations that response is not appropriate for parental SUD.
- Increased treatment capacity predicts decreased rates of substantiated abuse or neglect, suggesting treatment is effective in reducing immediate risk to children.
- However, children with unsubstantiated maltreatment are still at risk if supportive services are not provided.
