National Association for Children of Addiction

Calling all Tweens & Teens. Join us Tuesday evening to talk about Inside Out 2, your favorite parts of the movie, and the emotions featured and what happens with your "emotional control panel." Register today! https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrceyqrTkqE9Zy4u1NDDTJrksUiVcLfapQ

This is an exciting opportunity in the West Palm Beach, FL area. We are so proud to partner with Hanley in such an important way to help kids impacted by the disease of addiction.

Through a Child’s Eyes: Understanding Addiction and Recovery Join Hanley Foundation and Jerry Moe for 'Through a Child's Eyes: Understanding Addiction and Recovery' on September 12.

Thank you Addiction Policy Forum for creating such a great short film that packs a huge and important message to youth about va**ng.

Va**ng: The Hit Your Brain Takes “Va**ng: The Hit Your Brain Takes” debunks common myths about va**ng and boils down the science on the real harms of adolescent e-cigarette use. Appropriate...

Great reminders of things you can do every single day to be kind and gentle to yourself. It's a great practice for anyone who has been impacted by addiction as we continue to take good care of ourselves and be healthy in mind, body, and spirit.

Include the need for children and families as part of the recovery effort during Recovery Month. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that every child and family has the chance to experience the healing they deserve. Learn more: https://nacoa.org/celebrating-national-recovery-month-kids-and-families-deserve-their-own-healing/

Kids don't always have the sophistication to use words to tell you that they are hurting. Learn more about how kids may communicate that they are grieving. Can you hear them?

It's .

Today, we recognize the complexity of grief. Grief is usually seen as an emotional experience, and is often associated with one word: sadness.

Grief is actually quite complex and unique. It can look like sadness AND it can be disguised as many other outward expressions (i.e. confusion, stomach aches, forgetfulness, anger, headaches, etc.).

Use this guide by to check in with grief as a somatic experience. Created by Eluna's Bereavement Programs Manager, Kiri Meyer, MS, LPC, NCC, RYT-200.

👉 https://elunanetwork.org/resources/somatic-expressions-of-grief

August 31st is Overdose Awareness Day. Its a day the world unites to remember those we have lost to overdose. We take this time to educate about the risks and emphasize the importance of prevention. We lose far too many to overdose each year, and many of them are parents. In May, NIDA (the National Institute on Drug Abuse) confirmed that more than 320,000 children in the United States have lost a parent to a drug overdose from 2011 to 2021. Learn more about how we must rally together to be there for the children so tragically impacted by overdose:

Overdose and Grief: Children Need Our Support - NACoA OVERDOSE AND GRIEF: Children Need Our Support The convergence of International Grief Awareness Day observed on August 30th and International Overdose Awareness Day honored on August 31st represents the reality for so many children across the country. According to statistics shared by NIDA (the Natio...

Thank you Surgeon General for a focus on the mental well-being of our parents. They are the most essential resource for our children. We need them healthy! "We must do more to better support parents and caregivers The work of parenting is essential not only for the health of children but also for the health of society. Amid a youth mental health crisis, the work of raising a child is just as valuable as the work performed in a paid job and critically important when it comes to the impact on the future of society."

Parental Mental Health & Well-Being Parents Under Pressure: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents. The U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory 2024

Inside Out 2 is now available to stream on Prime Video and Apple TV (and soon to be available on Disney+ too!)! This movie is an incredible take on the dynamic emotions of our kids. Watch it again - or for the first time - this week, then join us for a webinar where we help caring adults use the themes of the movie to discuss emotions with kids and teens. In families impacted by addiction, this breaks the unspoken rules that keeps shame, blame, and isolation secret. For more information and to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ag_wGLiiS7Wtx6NNsGLCsA #/registration

A presentation and discussion focused on forgiveness last night provided everyone a great deal to think about! These 15 min. presentations from NACoA's ACOA Education & Discussion Meetings are recorded beforehand, and soon will be available on the website. Stay Tuned!

Read about repressed memories, the purpose it serves, and how to heal in this week's blog: "...some COAs may unconsciously block out memories from their childhood. This psychological phenomenon, often referred to as repressed or dissociative amnesia, serves as a coping mechanism to shield the individual from emotional pain or trauma. Understanding the dynamics and implications of this process is crucial for healing and recovery...."

The Complexity of Blocking Childhood Memories in COAs - NACoA For COAs – children impacted by the disease of addiction in their families – the household environment can often be unpredictable, stressful, and emotionally charged. In response to these conditions, some COAs may unconsciously block out memories from their childhood. This psychological phenomen...

From our friends at Vision, explore these wonderful tips to help parents and caregivers of teens how to help transition back to the schooltime routine. It's important to create those schedules and establish routines for academic success.

10 Back-to-School Tips for Parents and Teens - Visions Treatment Centers Going back to school can introduce new challenges for teens and their parents. Here are 10 back-to-school tips for parents.

Celebrating senior citizens today & the special role they play in the lives of children in their families. Special gratitude to those grandparents who take on parental roles because of addiction. Learn more about how to support these incredible seniors: https://nacoa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Helping-Grandparents-of-COAs.2024-scaled.jpg

Join NACoA and Guest Presenter Tammy Vincent tomorrow for our August ACOA education and discussion group! If you grew up in a home impacted by addiction, join others to learn more about the impact it may have had on you and how you can become healthier. Forgiveness is an important part of that process. We hope you can join us! Learn more and register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcoceqpqjMsEt0NGq0jz0sLH5pTfO9P_1wu #/registration

This is important for our whole family recovery program Celebrating Families!, but it is important for everyone. If your emotions are all over the place, and you find you are reacting more than you wish, reflect on your eating habits. “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” – Virginia Woolf.

Why our families need to understand the basics of healthy eating, and how nutrition relates to overall wellness. !

This study from National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism assesses the neurobehavioral health of children. There is a need to identify and support parents with FASD to optimize their parenting abilities in the context of their individual strengths and difficulties.

Learn more at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38149361/

Depending upon the study, anywhere from 1 - 10% of Americans struggle with summer SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Children growing up in homes impacted by addiction are highly vulnerable to SAD, and August can be an exceptionally difficult time for these individuals. Learn more about it, and what can help mitigate symptoms:

AN ADULT CHILD OF ADDICTION’S GUIDE TO SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER - NACoA AN ADULT CHILD OF ADDICTION’S GUIDE TO SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER Among the holiday cheer and winter months lurk the shadows of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), casting a pall over even the most resilient spirits. For those of us who bear the legacy of growing up as Adult Children of Parents wh...

This is an important blog about the impact of parentification, so often taking place when parents are struggling with addiction: “Parentification occurs when a child is forced into the role of caregiver for their parent, emotionally and practically. In this dynamic, the child feels responsible for taking care of the parent’s emotional needs, often becoming a source of support and reassurance… This can lead to a sense of guilt and undue responsibility when something goes wrong that they are unable to fix, further reinforcing the belief that they are at fault for any issues their parent faces…” Read More:

10 Common Traits of Parentified Daughters When children are forced to act in adult roles, due to family circumstances or dysfunctional roles, it can greatly affect their ability to have healthy adult relationships.

NACoA is very proud to work with White Bison to bring whole family recovery from the impact of addiction to Indigenous Communities. If you provide services and support to tribal families, consider this opportunity to replace intergenerational trauma with hope and healing. Reach out to White Bison to learn more.

August 2024 is Families in Wellbriety Month, and White Bison is sharing some of our family-focused Wellbriety trainings!

Wellbriety and Celebrating Families!™ is the result of a collaboration between White Bison and the National Association for Children of Addiction (NACoA). This exciting evidence-based program provides Indigenous Communities with the opportunity to implement a program for healing families affected by alcohol and substance use, that recognizes and incorporates traditional cultural teachings and practices. The facilitator implementation manual and training videos provide a framework of Wellbriety teachings that support the Wellbriety & Celebrating Families!™ curriculum.

This program is only available as a contract training through the Wellbriety Training Institute. To get more information about this program, you can go to https://tinyurl.com/whitebisonwcf. When you’re ready to schedule this training in your community, please send an e-mail [email protected].

The Camp Mariposa experience nurtures resilience in children impacted by parental addiction. Explore this wonderful opportunity for the upcoming dates in the Philadelphia area, or visit the website to learn more about a camp near you.

For those in the Philadelphia area, Camp Mariposa Philadelphia has spots open! CM is our year-round addiction prevention and mentoring program for youth and teens impacted by the substance use of a family member.

Thanks to our partner Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater Philadelphia,

93% of campers have made friends at Camp Mariposa
92% of campers report no use of substances to get high
87% of campers can identify two ways to take care of themselves

To learn more, contact Maura Hanlon, Camp Clinical Coordinator, at 267.679.6158 or [email protected].

In this week's blog, read about how behavioral health professionals can respond to the unique challenges without sacrificing their own health:
Behavioral health professionals face unique challenges in their roles, often absorbing the emotional weight of the crises and trauma experienced by their clients. The intensity of this work can lead to high levels of stress, emotional exhaustion, and even burnout if not managed effectively. It is crucial for these professionals to employ effective strategies to unwind and rejuvenate ... https://nacoa.org/self-care-strategies-for-behavioral-health-professionals/

For mothers early in recovery, juggling everything can be especially challenging. Here's a hotline just for maternal concerns - to help remember that you are not alone, and help is just a call away.

If you're pregnant or a mom in need of support, please reach out to the free & confidential National Maternal Mental Health Hotline 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262)
💕There's no shame in experiencing behavioral health challenges. Help is available.

This is important because these seniors are our children's grandparents or other important members of the family. Especially if these seniors live with the family, help kids understand what addiction is and what it isn't. And help them separate the disease that hurts them from the person they love.

Recovery knows no age limit. Nearly 1 million adults aged 65 and older are living with a substance use disorder, but there is hope. Let's support each other in finding strength and healing at any stage of life.

To learn about Hanley Center's Older Adult program, visit https://www.hanleycenter.org/treatment/older-adult/