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Resources
My name is Terry. I have a person in my life that I love very much who struggles with substance use disorder. Below are the resources I found to be helpful. Feel free to contact me. We are on the journey together. I wish the BEST for you and your loved ones. TheSoulfulForest@gmail.com
SAMHAS is our “mothership” of information. SAMHSA stands for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This division of the Department of Health and Human Services, USA, is an wealth of literature, statistics as well as lists of resources. The Soulful Forest has gleaned information from this valued and trusted resource to create our materials.
I found an article from OpioidLibrary.org published in 2020 to be extremely helpful. The website itself contains a plethora of engaging and specific materials. The article below provides links to additional resources as well as guides and provides infographics that may be helpful for children as they navigate the journey of living with a loved one with substance use disorder.
On my own journey of having a family member with substance use disorder, I discovered a new way of thinking. My “go to” was always threatening, cajoling, begging, playing savior and generally telling this person that I loved so much, how to get better. I was always surprised that she did not appreciate my “I want to be your God” like interference in her life. In 2013, I began to explore the idea that I needed to change. I began by changing my language, which changed my feeling and thoughts. It then, once it seeped into my heart, changed my behavior towards this beautiful adult woman who struggles mightily with substance abuse. A recent New York Times article highlighted how society is beginning to change it’s attitude and thereby has opened up new treatment options. I found I needed to change my heart and mind. It’s individual for me but the broader picture of how this change could impact society at large is reflected in the article titled, “48 Million Americans Live With Addiction. Here’s How to Get Them Help That Works.”
Chapter One is “HUMANIZE DRUG USERS.” Those three words are the beginning of real change
The Impact of Substance Use Disorders on Families and Children: From Theory to Practice
Although this article is from 2013, the information is true today. I attempted to place quotes from the article here but I would need a lot more room. The insight that can be gleaned from the writers, Laura Lander, Janie Howsare, and Marilyn Byrne, could be helpful to any family situation. The needs and structure of the family unit under stressful conditions can be further understood in this missive. It is provided by PubMed (PMC), a division of the National Institute of Health.
Note: PMC was developed and is operated by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), a division of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The National Association of Children of Addiction is a shining light of information and resources for families with children living with substance use disorder. The “Tools for Kids” is a great download. It can be found in the “Families” tab.