Summary: Parents who used marijuana and alcohol were more likely to use a range of disciplinary methods — from nonviolent tactics to corporal punishment and, in some cases, physical abuse — than parents who did not use substances. In this sample, parents who reported using both alcohol and marijuana in the past year had a 0.5 times higher annual frequency of physical abuse compared with parents who drank alcohol only.
Source: Ohio State University
Short version: A study of California parents suggests that marijuana use does not necessarily make parents calmer or less punitive. Instead, current marijuana users reported using all forms of discipline more frequently than non-users, including nonviolent discipline, corporal punishment, and physical abuse.
As marijuana becomes more accepted and legally available in many places, more adults who are parents report using it. Some parents describe cannabis as a tool that helps them relax and cope with parenting demands. However, this research indicates that parental marijuana use — often combined with alcohol use — is associated with a higher likelihood of applying stricter and more frequent disciplinary strategies.
Bridget Freisthler, co-author of the study and a professor of social work, and Nancy Jo Kepple conducted the research to explore how specific types of substance use relate to different parenting and discipline practices in the general population.
The study drew on a telephone survey of 3,023 randomly selected California parents of children ages 12 and under, conducted in 2009. Parents were asked about their recent substance use (within the past year) and past use (a year or more prior) of substances including alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamine, and other drugs. The survey also asked how often parents used nonviolent discipline (timeouts, removal of privileges), corporal punishment (spanking), and physically abusive actions (for example, striking a child with a closed fist).
Key findings: Current marijuana users reported higher frequencies of all types of discipline than non-users. Most marijuana users in the sample also drank alcohol (about 92 percent), and alcohol users showed similar patterns of increased discipline. Parents who had used alcohol or marijuana in the past, but not within the past year, also reported more frequent use of many disciplinary methods than parents who never used those substances.
The study further found a dose–response relationship between the number of different substances a parent used and how frequently they disciplined. Parents who used multiple substances reported using disciplinary tactics, including physical abuse, more often than parents who used a single substance. For example, parents reporting the highest levels of polysubstance use practiced physical abuse at a rate approximately 1.45 times greater than parents reporting use of only one substance.
Freisthler noted that these results do not establish causation but do highlight concerning associations. One possible explanation is that some parents who use marijuana or alcohol may react more quickly or harshly to minor misbehavior, perhaps to avoid disruption while they are under the influence or experiencing the aftereffects of substance use. The study cannot confirm these motivations, but it suggests patterns that warrant attention from clinicians and child welfare professionals.
Implications: The findings suggest that professionals working with adults who use substances should consider evaluating parenting practices as part of broader assessments. Addiction treatment providers, pediatric practitioners, and child welfare specialists may benefit from screening for parenting challenges, particularly among parents who report past-year alcohol use, recent polysubstance use, or methamphetamine use. Early identification of high-risk parenting behaviors could support interventions that reduce reliance on punitive discipline and promote safer, nonviolent strategies.
“Marijuana use is not risk-free. It affects a lot of behaviors, including parenting.”
Funding: The study was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Source:
Ohio State University
Media Contact:
Bridget Freisthler – Ohio State University
Image Source:
The image is in the public domain.
Original Research: Closed access. “Types of Substance Use and Punitive Parenting: A Preliminary Exploration.” Bridget Freisthler & Nancy Jo Kepple. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions. DOI: 10.1080/1533256X.2019.1640019
Abstract (summary):
This preliminary study examines how different types of substance use relate to a range of parenting behaviors, focusing on physical abuse in comparison with other disciplinary tactics. Using data from a 2009 telephone survey of 3,023 parents across 50 California cities, the authors applied Kruskal–Wallis tests and hierarchical generalized linear models to explore relationships between substance type and frequency of nonviolent discipline, corporal punishment, and child physical abuse. Results indicate that type of drug used is differentially related to discipline strategies. Nonviolent discipline and corporal punishment showed a dose–response relationship: parents reporting use of more substances also reported using both forms of discipline more frequently. The authors recommend that addiction professionals consider partnering with child development or child welfare specialists to assess parenting strategies among high-risk groups, especially parents with past-year alcohol use, a history of polysubstance use, or methamphetamine use.