Substance Use & Addictions

The best prevention for substance use and addictions in children & teens is talking about it early, modeling appropriate adult use and/or abstinence, reducing stress, explaining parental addictions, and reassuring kids they can talk to you...no matter what. Most important of all? Find fun and meaningful ways to stay connected and involved. Strengthening attachment helps you better support your child, even if professional intervention is needed. Please reference our Children, Youth & Porn, Prenatal Substance Exposure, Suicide & Self Harm Supports, and Teen Topics pages for more resources.

This video contains sensitive material.

"...they don’t use drugs because of peer pressure or a desire to get high, but rather to cope with the stress and anxiety in their lives." ~David Sheff, best-selling author of Clean: Overcoming Addiction & Ending America's Greatest Tragedy

Food for Thought

Disrupting Stigma: How Understanding, Empathy, & Connection Can Improve Outcomes for Families Affected by Substance Use and Mental Disorders by NCSACW
Lessons Learned: What is Person-First Language? by SAFEProject
Words Matter - Terms to Use & Avoid When Talking About Addiction by National Institute on Drug Abuse

OHA’s Save Lives Oregon initiative is offering school districts free opioid overdose reversal kits!

General Websites

Addiction Policy Forum
Alano Club - For Families
Alcohol.org - teen alcohol abuse and treatment
Child Mind Institute - Drug & Alcohol Use by Teens & en español
Drop the Bomb - all about fentanyl & how to talk to kids
Eluna Network - includes addiction & grief resources!
GOBI Support for Teen Substance Use - so many resources + free online program!
Know Your Neuro - brain-based & informed prevention with Crystal Collier - author in ORPARC's library
National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW)
National Institute on Drug Abuse: Advancing Addiction Science & en español
NTI Upstream - Dr. Ira Chasnoff
Partnership to End Addiction & Recursos en español
SAFEProject (Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic)
Song for Charlie - fentanyl focused
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Take Meds Seriously Oregon (Prescription Drug Use) & en español
Talk to Frank - honest information about drugs

Recommended Books & Articles

Substance use-related Materials in ORPARC's library, including a Fentanyl bundle for supporting & educating teens.

Answering Your Child's Tough Questions (about alcohol & drugs, including your own use) by SAMHSA
Beyond Addiction Workbooks - Free first Chapter Download
Drug Facts & Glossary of Substances by ADF Australia
Fewer Teens are Drinking. But a Group of Pediatricians is Begging Parents to Be Vigilant by Jessica Lahey
The Five Major Types of Drugs Used by Teens by Sam Himelstein
GOBI Support Blog Articles on Teens & Marijuana Use
The Addiction Series: The Hijacker by Addiction Policy Forum
How to Address Alcohol & Underage Drinking
I Thought Addiction was My Son's Problem. But Addiction Is a Family Disease by David Sheff
- Devastating Drug Addiction by Oprah.com - David and his son Nic's story
The Intersection of Adoption & Addiction by Dr. Brett Furst, adoptee
Marijuana may cause cognitive impairment even when not still high by NBC Health News
Marijuana Research Report from the National Institute on Drug Abuse
Marijuana Unwrapped by Digital Futures Initiative
Oregon's Alcohol Laws & Minors by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission
Prenatal Substance Exposure - An ORPARC Resource page
The Science of Addiction - Know Your Neuro by Crystal Collier - author in ORPARC's library
Talking to Kids About Alcohol and Other Drugs by SAMHSA
Talking with Your Teen About Marijuana
Teenagers Dealing with Addiction, on What Might Have Helped by Jessica Lahey
Teens and Marijuana: A Parents’ Guide by Serenity At Summit
Teens Self-Medicating with Drugs & Alcohol by Child Mind Institute & en español
The Truth About Vaping by Digital Futures Initiative
Trauma-informed care and substance use disorders by CareOregon (video)
Vaping: What to Know & How To Talk To Your Kids About Vaping by Partnership for Drug-Free Kids
What Every Parent or Caregiver Needs to Know About Fake Pills by DEA & en español
Why You Should Talk with Your Child About Alcohol and Other Drugs by SAMHSA

Parental addictions

Brazelton Touchpoints Videos - free series on supporting parents with SUD, including child & parent healing
Canary in the Coal Mine by Stacey Gagnon
Children Living with Parents Who Have a Substance Use Disorder by SAMHSA
Children: The Silent Victims of Parental Alcoholism & Substance Use by Donna Fogle
Explaining Addiction to a Child by ADF
Foster/Kinship Caregivers: Supporting Children Impacted by Substance Use by Heather Miller
Help for Grandfamilies Impacted by Opioids & Other Substance Use Part I & Part II by Generations United
How to Explain Addiction & Substance Use Disorder to Children (6-12) by Eluna & en español
How to Explain Addiction to a Child by Very Well Mind
Nuggets: An illustration on addiction by Andreas Hykade (video)
Parental Addiction by Sesame Street & en español
Saved by Sports: Coping with my father’s addiction by Noah Miller
What is Parental Addiction by Stop Abuse

Fentanyl-specific

Carry a Second Chance - life-saving Naxolone
Drop the Bomb - all about fentanyl & how to talk to kids
- Parents Talking With Kids (scroll down to videos)
Fentanyl by SAFEProject - many resources!
Fentanyl Guide by ODHS Child Safety Program
Fentanyl in Oregon: Challenges, Myths & Tools by Dr. Todd Korthius, OHSU
Fentanyl: what to know – what to do – what’s coming by CareOregon (video)
Opiates & Opioids - Know Your Neuro by Crystal Collier - author in ORPARC's library
Oregon Opioid Factsheet by AAP & Casey Family Programs
Song for Charlie - many resources!
What do Oregon's Young People Know About Fentanyl & Pills? No time to spare! by Comagine Health

Culturally-specific

Addiction & Mental Health Resources by SAFEProject
- AAPI Communities
- Black Community
- Latinx/Hispanic Communities & en español
- LGBTQ+ Community
Examining Drug Use by Race by Dr. Richard Crabbe
Providing Culturally Responsive Recovery Supports: Recommendations for Engaging Young Black Adults by SAMHSA
Tapping Tribal Wisdom: Providing Collaborative Care for Native Pregnant Women with Substance Use Disorders & Their Infants by National Center on Substance Use & Child Welfare

Online Resources for Teens & Their Advocates

In addition to the above:

Healthy Teen Network
Mindfulness for Teens
Mind Matters Series on The Brain's Response to Drugs by NIH - booklets/videos to share with teens and/or educators on cocaine, inhalants, opioids, prescription drugs, and many more
- The Body's Response to Marijuana
- The Body's Response to Nicotine, Tobacco & Vaping
National Institute on Drug Abuse - including commonly used drug chart & en español
- for Parents & Educators and for College Age/Young Adults
Teens: Drug Use & the Brain by NIH - many great resources, including games!

Hotlines & Helplines

Alcohol & Substance Abuse: 1-800-784-6776
1-855-DRUGFREE - a nationwide support service that offers assistance to parents and other primary caregivers of children who want to talk to someone about their child’s drug use and drinking & en español!
Partnership to End Addiction Helpline options & en español!

Featured Favorites

The NeuroWhereAbouts Guide by Crystal Collier - a goldmine on it all!

Clean by David Sheff

Floating Away by Andrew J. Bauman

Addie's Mom Isn't Home Anymore by Genia Calvin

Mother Bunny & the Bad Plants: a story of kinship care for small children by Elise Bowditch - oldie by goodie!

The Addiction Monster by Janet Amptman

Mama's Waves by Chandra Ghosh Ippen

It Will Never Happen to Me by Claudia Black

Timbi Talks about Addiction by Trish Healy Luna

The Addiction Inoculation by Jessica Lahey

Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Beyond Addiction by Jeffrey Foote

15 Poems to Healing & Recovery by Diane Kaufman