The ripple effect: The impact of the opioid epidemic on children and families

the report is based on extensive research, interviews, and a literature review by UHF staff, as well as a two-day meeting hosted by UHF in October 2018 that brought together national and local experts in child development, family policy, addiction treatment, child welfare, and state and local government officials.

While previous reports have examined aspects of the impact on children, such as pregnant women who use drugs or the increased numbers of children who enter foster care, this is the first comprehensive look at the successive waves of loss and trauma experienced by newborns, young children, adolescents, and their families. It also looks at the needs of kinship caregivers, typically grandparents who often step in to care for these children.

The report lays out a blueprint for action aimed at public and private agencies and professionals.