Mental and substance use disorders often go untreated for parents receiving Medicaid
Some context: Experts say bad situations can often be reversed with treatment.Both the mental health and drug addiction crises are rocking the country, and the effects of parents' drug use and mental illness can quickly spill over to their children. Public health experts say substance use disorders can incapacitate a previously diligent parent and lead to Child Protective Services involvement.In 2021 alone, more than seven million children were referred to authorities over concerns of maltreatment, and more than 200,000 were removed from their homes, according to a federal report. But research shows that when parents seek treatment for psychiatric and substance use disorders, they are much less likely to experience family separation.The numbers: what the researchers discovered.To cal...