PHC6451: You’re Not Alone: Building Resilience and Battling Substance Use By Supporting Parents

This post describes a hypothetical program that would target parents with a history of-- or current challenges with-- substance use disorder (SUD) or substance misuse. The presentation discusses the challenges adults have had with substance use in the United States, the impact adult use of substances has on the individual as well as their children, and how a comprehensive approach using the social-ecological model may address the needs of parents with SUD. The program focuses on the theme "You’re Not Alone: Building Resilience and Battling Substance Use By Supporting Parents" and emphasizes education regarding trauma and SUD and humanizing individuals with SUD and their families. Interventions include therapeutic services for individuals with SUD and their family members and classes on how to support individuals with SUD. In addition to individual and relational interventions, suggestions are made for how the community could support parents with SUD by providing trauma-informed care and how targeting stigma against adults with SUD could bring positive change for parents, their families, and communities overall. The ultimate goal of the program is to reduce substance abuse and increase use of adaptive coping skills, communication, and understanding by connecting parents with SUD to trauma-informed care and community support.