The Most Important Work: Breaking the Cycle of Addiction

To hear more check out the episode 'Talking with Kids about Addiction in the Family-How Fred Rogers' Legacy Can Guide Us" with Dana Winters, Ph.D., director of simple interactions and academic programs at the Fred Rogers Center!

An estimated 8 million children in the U.S. live in a home with at least parent with a substance use disorder; and, the majority of these children are under the age of 5. Yet, addiction in the family is often not talked about with the children. Fred Rogers was dedicated to highlighting the importance of talking with children about the difficult situations that they face. Talking about difficult situations may help children better manage their feelings and lets them know that a trusting adult is there to help guide them through it. If you care about a child who loves someone with an addiction then listen as Dana Winters, Ph.D., director of simple interactions and academic programs for the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media, discusses talking with children about addiction in the family.

Being Open and Honest by Dr. Jessica J. Black

Recent data show that in the Pittsburgh region alone, 50% of residents who died from an opioid-involved overdose were parents. Losing a parent, especially unexpectedly, can be immensely difficult for any child. And, it may be even more difficult for children who lost a parent to drug overdose. Due to circumstances surrounding the death, neighbors and friends may blame the parent or feel uncomfortable talking about the parent’s death. This in turn can hurt the child who is grieving. In this episode, a bereavement counselor with over 25 years of experience talks about complicated grief in children and gives tips on recognizing signs of grief, allowing the child to grieve in their own way and acknowledging their loved one’s death. This is an excellent listen for anyone who cares about a child who is grieving.

Michael Lynch, M.D., a distinguished emergency medicine physician and a board member at the American Association of Poison Control Centers discusses issues surrounding medication for opioid use disorder. You will hear what made Dr. Lynch go from being a skeptic about medication for opioid addiction to a supporter of it. He shares his personal experience treating children and teens for poisoning, including changing trends in recent years and how you can protect children. This is a great listen for anyone who has a child or teen in their life.

Have you thought about focusing on your recovery from your loved one’s substance use disorder? It is common to get lost in trying to help your loved one achieve or maintain recovery from addiction causing you to neglect your own mental and physical well-being. You have a right to recovery, regardless of your loved one’s recovery status. On this episode, you’ll hear from addiction expert Dr. Dennis Daley on the importance of focusing on your own recovery. This is an important listen for anyone who loves someone who is struggling with or has achieved recovery from substance use disorder.

Over 2.6 million grandparents in the U.S. are caring for their grandchildren, many because of parental addiction. And, these grandparents, must navigate their own difficult feelings of shock, grief, anger, while taking on a new, often unexpected, parenting role. On this episode, you’ll hear from one grandfather, Dr. William Kerr, who navigated one of the most difficult periods of his life--- learning of his adult daughter’s opioid use disorder then taking legal custody of his grandson. He found a new purpose, his daughter found recovery, and his grandson is thriving. This is a great listen for anyone who is caring for or knows someone who is caring for their grandchild due to parental substance use disorder.