Addiction journal
Addiction journal
Caregiver alcohol use and child maltreatment with June Leung
Caregiver alcohol use and child maltreatment with June Leung
Caregiver alcohol use and child maltreatment with June Leung
Friday 22nd August 2025
Dr June Leung discusses caregiver alcohol use and its link to child maltreatment, revealing key findings from her systematic review.
18 minutes
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Addiction journal
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Categories:
Navigating Alcohol Dependency
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Family Recovery from Addiction
Nutritional Pathways to Recovery
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Get the buttons here!Exploring Caregiver Alcohol Use and Child Maltreatment: Insights from Dr June Leung
Episode Overview
- Caregivers with alcohol-related diagnoses are twice as likely to be involved in child maltreatment.
- Family violence is complex and involves multiple factors beyond alcohol use.
- Preventative measures should include strategies to reduce alcohol harm.
- Observational studies have limitations but highlight significant associations.
- More longitudinal research is needed from diverse settings.
Children are some of the most vulnerable members of our society and rely completely on adults for their nurture and care.
Dr Zoe Swithenbank sits down with Dr June Leung, a senior researcher at Massey University, to explore the intricate link between caregiver alcohol use and child maltreatment. This episode tackles a systematic review and meta-analysis, which uncovers the potential risks associated with parental alcohol use and the various forms of child maltreatment. The conversation sheds light on the types of maltreatment, including physical abuse, neglect, and emotional harm, and the troubling association with alcohol-related diagnoses.
Dr Leung's research suggests that caregivers with alcohol-related issues are twice as likely to be involved in child maltreatment, highlighting the need for preventative measures. The discussion doesn't shy away from the complexities of family violence, considering factors like intergenerational trauma and societal influences. Dr Leung emphasises that while alcohol is not the root cause, it can exacerbate the problem, making it crucial to address alcohol use in efforts to prevent child maltreatment.
The episode also touches on policy implications, urging for more comprehensive strategies that include reducing alcohol harm as part of family violence prevention. Dr Leung shares the challenges faced during the research process, from the emotional toll of reviewing distressing studies to navigating the limitations of observational data. She calls for more longitudinal studies and research from diverse settings to better understand the global impact.
If you're interested in understanding how caregiver alcohol use impacts children and society, this episode offers valuable insights and calls for collective action to protect vulnerable children.