The ‘alarmingly weak’ evidence base for the ‘toxic trio’
Despite its centrality in child protection policy and practice, the reserach base relating to the combined impact of parental mental ill-health, substance misuse and domestic abuse is lacking, a recent paper argues
January 28, 2021 in Adults, Children
Photo: Artur/Adobe Stock
By Guy Skinner, Paul Bywaters, Andy Bilson, Robbie Duschinsky, Keith Clement and Dustin Hutchinson
The term ‘toxic trio’ was coined to describe the risk of child abuse and neglect stemming from a child’s exposure to i) domestic violence, ii) parental mental health issues and/or learning disability, and iii) parental alcohol and/or drug misuse.