the two. Once the underlying etiological factors contributing to children's poor outcomes related to birth parent substance use have been more precisely identified, intervention programs can more adeptly target the primary causes leading to child risk. For example, if children who are exposed to prenatal substance use but who are reared in healthy postnatal environments look similarly well-adjusted to children without prenatal substance use and if children with the dual risks of exposure to prenatal substance use and a maladaptive postnatal environment show the poorest adjustment, then a dual intervention that targets prenatal (to minimize prenatal drug use) and postnatal (to teach parents effective parenting styles) variables could enhance intervention effects. Conversely, if the combination of prenatal substance use and maladaptive postnatal rearing environment is no worse than either risk independently, then there might be more flexibility as to when effective interventions could be delivered for families with the dual constellation of risks.
