The Most Important Work: Breaking the Cycle of Addiction

How Pediatricians can Connect a Child to Resources

Pediatricians can play a key role in offering a child impacted by addiction hope, help and healing. Board certified pediatrician, Dr. Cutrell, of UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh typically sees a child every day who is impacted by parental addiction. Listen to this hopeful discussion in which Dr. Cutrell conveys how much pediatricians care about the emotional well-being of a child, how they understand that substance use disorder is a medical condition, and how they can connect a child to some of the best resources in the community.

YOU are Enough for Your Child.

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!

Talking with Kids about Addiction in the Family-How Fred Rogers' Legacy Can Guide Us.

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

Being Open and Honest by Dr. Jessica J. Black

Helping Children Grieve the Loss of a Loved One from Drug Overdose

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.