Parenting plans may include schedules that parents should follow, guidelines for communication and even instructions about how to navigate a dispute. While many divorced or separating parents have relatively even time-sharing arrangements, overnight time with both parents may not be in the children’s best interests.
In some cases, pre-existing substance abuse issues may raise questions about the best way to protect children without alienating them from one of their parents. How can parents who acknowledge a substance abuse issue address it effectively in a parenting plan?
Limiting parenting time
Frequently, the simplest way to avoid substance abuse complications when sharing custody is to have one parent enjoy regular visitation with the children while the other is responsible for the majority of overnight parenting time. This arrangement is potentially modifiable when the parent struggling with substance abuse verifiably addresses their issue and improves their situation. Unfortunately, a parent’s substance abuse can have a profound negative impact on children if left unchecked. Unsupervised parenting time could even be downright dangerous in some cases.
Encouraging counseling
A parenting plan can include an outline for how a parent struggling with substance abuse can increase their time with their children. Completing specific types of counseling and inpatient rehabilitation services could make an increase in parenting time appropriate. Agreeing to randomized drug testing and remaining sober for a specific amount of time could also help to ensure that a struggling parent seeks the care they need. It can also be helpful for the children and the other parent to attend support groups or counseling focused on those impacted by addiction.
In cases where parents cannot reach an agreement on how to address substance abuse issues in a parenting plan, custody litigation may be necessary. Gathering documentation of addiction and its impact on a parent can help convince the courts that interventions are necessary for the well-being of the children.
