I believe that children know when our loved ones have a problem. They see the behavior at family gatherings, holidays, etc. Thank you for pointing out the notion that substance use disorders are diseases. It is easier to discuss then, like any other disease that must be managed. Thank you for bringing up this subject, so important for parents of tweens and teens to discuss, before they start to experiment.
Re stigma & discussing family addiction history: I know this can be difficult in families b/c some people are never diagnosed with a substance use problem and some don't discuss or disclose their history. So how can parents navigate that issue? How do we talk to our kids honestly about risk without violating the privacy of others/sharing a story or medical info that may not be ours to share?
I believe that children know when our loved ones have a problem. They see the behavior at family gatherings, holidays, etc. Thank you for pointing out the notion that substance use disorders are diseases. It is easier to discuss then, like any other disease that must be managed. Thank you for bringing up this subject, so important for parents of tweens and teens to discuss, before they start to experiment.
Re stigma & discussing family addiction history: I know this can be difficult in families b/c some people are never diagnosed with a substance use problem and some don't discuss or disclose their history. So how can parents navigate that issue? How do we talk to our kids honestly about risk without violating the privacy of others/sharing a story or medical info that may not be ours to share?