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Opioid crisis creating aggressive behavior in children, experts say

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The opioid crisis has created a new, frightening reality that affects children.

Reactive Attachment Disorder, RAD, is a brain condition in children who are severely neglected.

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One mother who adopted a child with RAD said that her daughter’s condition is so severe the family is not only afraid for her, but they are afraid of her.

“Can I just say every kind of trauma you never want to imagine.  They were all born drug positive and one was born full-out addicted,” said the mother.

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She and her family took in four foster siblings under the age of 10.

Social services told the family that one child had ADHD, but things got worse when she was later diagnosed with RAD.

Licensed professional therapist Elizabeth Ventura said, “RAD children do become violent and aggressive because there's that inability to connect and there's this lack of empathy and sometimes they can develop some sociopathic behaviors.”

The mother  said she remembers being threatened by her daughter, who said, "I know where you keep your guns."

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Her daughter was admitted to a psychiatric hospital, like many other children with the disorder.

Resources for young people with mental health problems are scarce, especially for those diagnosed with RAD, because they can be manipulative and even dangerous to other kids.

The mother is forced to give up rights to her daughter to protect the other adopted siblings.

“We are scared to death of what the future brings for us as a family. There's no help. There just isn't any help,” said the heartbroken mother.

She thinks opioid abuse will lead to more children being severely neglected and at risk of developing RAD.

The heartbroken mother said, “As bad as the opioid epidemic is and it is very bad and heartbreaking--we know what's coming after, and all their children are going to start growing up in our society, and it's not going to be good.”

Experts said it's difficult to know exactly how many children have RAD, since many families never seek help, however, many predict RAD cases will go up because of the opioid crisis.

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