Document Type
Panel Presentation
Start Date
19-4-2019 2:00 PM
End Date
19-4-2019 3:15 PM
Keywords
Opioid Epidemic, West Virginia, Developmental Psychology
Biography
I am a junior at Marshall University pursuing a degree in English. I have lived in the Charleston area my entire life. I enjoy hiking, camping, and kayaking.
Major
English
Advisor for this project
Dr. Lumpkin
Abstract
Children of the Opioid Epidemic:
The Psychological Impact that will Haunt their Adulthood
The opioid epidemic in West Virginia is causing children to experience traumatic events such as the death of a parent, absence of a parent, poverty, abuse, and neglect before they are developmentally ready to understand such events. Experiencing such events before a child is physically and psychologically strong causes him or her to face setbacks in other developmental stages that will lead to dysfunctional adulthood. Some of the setbacks these children will experience include the absence of trust, lack of self-esteem, increase of guilt, absence of self-identity, increase of isolation, and an increase of feeling disconnected from society. After collecting and evaluating research based on how adults turn out when they are raised in a house with one or more parents battling addiction, the paper concludes that the opioid epidemic puts the children at a higher risk of following in the cycle of their parents’ addiction. The number of children who do follow the cycle will put West Virginia even deeper into crisis unless interventions are made by providing support and care to those in danger.
Children of the Opioid Epidemic: The Psychological Impact that will Haunt their Adulthood
Children of the Opioid Epidemic:
The Psychological Impact that will Haunt their Adulthood
The opioid epidemic in West Virginia is causing children to experience traumatic events such as the death of a parent, absence of a parent, poverty, abuse, and neglect before they are developmentally ready to understand such events. Experiencing such events before a child is physically and psychologically strong causes him or her to face setbacks in other developmental stages that will lead to dysfunctional adulthood. Some of the setbacks these children will experience include the absence of trust, lack of self-esteem, increase of guilt, absence of self-identity, increase of isolation, and an increase of feeling disconnected from society. After collecting and evaluating research based on how adults turn out when they are raised in a house with one or more parents battling addiction, the paper concludes that the opioid epidemic puts the children at a higher risk of following in the cycle of their parents’ addiction. The number of children who do follow the cycle will put West Virginia even deeper into crisis unless interventions are made by providing support and care to those in danger.
