The authors conclude that currently drug addicts are treated without reference to their responsibilities and behaviors as parents and family members. Typically the children of drug abusers are not being served by any of the systems that usually focus on the needs of community residents. Welfare workers are not prepared to manage the enormous caseload of children of drug abusers; mental health professionals are not trained to deal with their problems; and the addiction treatment field focuses on the addicts. Consequently, the criminal justice and family court systems are the institutions left to try and deal with the children of drug-addicted parents. The authors present the stories of the children of drug abusers and feature their surprising resilience. They review the available literature and outline some of the pioneering efforts already being made to help these children, as well as the work that remains to be done. The book suggests ways to cope with the differences among families of drug abusers and their children. Based on their years of experience in the drug abuse, mental health, and child welfare fields, the authors advocate direct treatment of the children of drug abusers through a combination of family-oriented therapy and practical survival services for parents and children. They call for a transition from an addict-oriented treatment system to family-oriented treatment. Subject index and 153 references