It is characterized by cycles of abuse, decreased use, relapse and more abuse. For an addicted parent, the day revolves around the need to procure and use the drug of choice, and then to recover from its affects. For these parents, the responsibility to protect and sustain their children is less important than the parent's need for the euphoria produced by the drug. As a result of substance abuse, children may be left alone or unsupervised for long periods of time. Often young children make a valiant effort to parent even younger children.
Some children care for their incapacitated parents.
Family resources needed for food and other necessities may be bartered for drugs. In extreme cases, children are offered for drugs. Alcohol abuse appears to be the drug most often associated with physical abuse. Greater degrees of alcohol abuse appear to correlate with increased physical violence. Cocaine abuse by parent puts children at increased risk for sexual abuse due to a lack of boundaries, and to exposure to non-family contacts in houses where drug dealing takes place.