On July 9, 2021, we lost our oldest child, Rory, to an opioid overdose. He was 29 years old. Summarizing the last 20 years of Rory’s struggle with ADHD, mental health and substance use feels daunting. I remember the day he was born being overwhelmed by the need to keep him safe. It is heartbreaking when you realize that you aren’t always able to protect your children.
When a parent finally realizes that their child’s drug use isn’t “just a phase,” they begin the terrifying journey to finding some kind of remedy. It would be helpful if that journey weren’t marked by wrong information, stigmatizing opinions, predatory service providers and an uneducated medical community.
These were men that drank and played hard during a time when there was less discrimination over a swing and a swig. Men whose substance use were denied or protected, sometimes even by the sportswriters who sat at the bar with them.
Addiction family therapists believe that problems exist between people, not within them. Try to understand and validate experiences of all family members to get to the root issues.
There are many misconceptions about addiction in our culture which often prevent parents from coping with and helping stop their child's drug use. Learn to separate the myths from the facts.
If your child has decided to seek rehab treatment for substance use, it's a milestone. But what if treatment for your child isn't available right away?
Get proven strategies for helping to pass 911 Good Samaritan legislation in order to ensure that no one is prevented from calling 911 to help someone who overdosed.
Learn more about how men and women can benefit from gender-specific addiction treatment due to biological and social differences surrounding substance use.
If you're denied insurance coverage for your child's treatment for addiction, you might be within your rights under the Parity Law to file a complaint. Learn more.
Unfortunately, many insurers automatically deny coverage for your child's drug addiction treatment. You may have to appeal in order to get your coverage. Learn how.
Many parents don’t know that insurance providers must cover substance use disorder. Be prepared to document all conversations to ensure your child's care.
In many cases, your insurance provider is obligated to cover your child’s substance use disorder or addiction treatment. Here's what to ask of and what to say to your provider to ensure that happens.
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