Many child protection cases today involve parental substance misuse. At a time of rising concern over its possible effects on children, this anthology is a vital contribution to our knowledge and understanding. Vividly illustrated with case examples and first-person accounts from those directly affected, medical experts provide much needed information on the effects on children of drugs, alcohol and tobacco, and practitioners address the challenges that social workers face, including assessing children and planning and supporting their placements. This collection provides a solid foundation for child care social work today, providing practitioners with the knowledge they need to understand the effects of parental substance misuse on children and how this, in turn, should affect how they plan for, assess, place and support those children. This guide is ideal for all those who work with or care for looked after and adopted children who may have been affected by parental substance misuse, including social workers and medical advisers.