Addiction’s Impact on Children and Families: Resources for Parents, Grandparents, Children and Youth

Research has shown that having a close family member with a history of addiction is a risk factor for substance use and for developing a substance use disorder. In this collection, we feature resources that provide education about addiction, support for coping when a family member has an addiction, and selected resources designed to help prevent the development of substance use disorder in children and youth. Continue reading

Addiction’s Impact on Children and Families: Policy Guides

The opioid and addiction crises have greatly impacted family stability, leading to large increases in child welfare cases and the rate of grandparents or other relatives raising children. In this collection, we feature reports that describe the impact of addiction on families and provide strategies for improving services provided to children and their caregivers. Continue reading

Applying the Evidence: Legal and Policy Approaches to Address Opioid Use Disorder in the Criminal Justice and Child Welfare Settings

A comprehensive report on increasing access to evidence-based treatments for substance use disorder in the criminal justice and child welfare systems from researchers at the Addiction & Public Policy Initiative of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown Law Center. The report specifically addresses increasing access to medications to treat opioid use disorder (MOUD) in jails and prisons, in treatment court settings, and in the child welfare system. The report reviews programs in multiple states and summarizes legal, legislative and fiscal strategies to implement and manage evidence-based, public-health focused interventions in these settings. Continue reading

Operation Prevention: Parent Toolkit

The parental tool-kit created as part of the Operation Prevention substance abuse prevention program created by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Discovery Education. The tool-kit includes information for parents to accompany the curriculum students receive in Operation Prevention programs in K-12 education programs. Continue reading

Addiction Impacts the Entire Family: Pearls for Providers

This 4 minute video, entitled “Addiction Impacts the Entire Family: Pearls for Providers” from an educator at Boston Medical Center’s Grayken Center for Addiction who has a family experience with addiction, describes the role family members can play in facilitating treatment for substance use disorders and provides guidance on how health care providers can engage with family members in understanding evidence-based treatment. Continue reading

The Nar-Anon Family Groups Guide to Local Services

This is the 2018 Nar-Anon Family Group’s guide to providing local services for anyone who has been affected by close contact with a person with an addiction including information for Narateen programs which serve youth and teenagers affected by addition. The guide includes information about Nar-Anon and Narateen policies and management structures, financial policies, and other traditions of the Nar-Anon and Narateen groups. Continue reading