Addiction specialist Dr. Lipi Roy discusses what substance use disorders are and teaches us about the most updated models of care for these painful conditions. There are effective medical treatments available now that are integrated into comprehensive treatment plans that include non-medication interventions as well.

Unfortunately, because of outdated understandings of and stigma about substance use disorders, many people are unaware of how effective medical treatments can be. Old models that blame criminal behavior or moral failures prevent people from getting care that works. Medical treatment models are now considered the most effective way to treat substance use disorders, approaching them as chronic medical conditions that deserve care and not blame or punishment.

We discuss evidence-based treatment, public health interventions related to harmful substances, and focus on harm reduction. The key to success is remembering that “the opposite of addiction is connection.” Educators, providers, parents, and others can help by providing a safe space without judgment and being a curious and active listener. If you are worried about an adolescent or they come to you with concerns, these safe conversations, rather than shock or anger, will help start the process of recovery.

Tags

addiction

Substance use disorder

evidence-based treatment

Addiction treatment

harm reduction

Medically assisted treatment

Resources:

Boston Children’s Hospital Addiction Medicine

National Center for College Students with Disabilities

NAMI College Guide

The Steve Fund

The Jed Foundation

Mental Health America

Peer mentor Jax Agee joins Candida and Jo-Ann to tell about their work as a peer mentor for people living with mental health challenges. Jax’s lived experience helps them connect with individuals living in the community with tasks and goals related to their treatment plans. This can include tasks of daily living, budgeting and banking, learning to use transportation, reinforcing therapeutic goals, and more. We learned what to expect as a client and what it’s like to be a mentor.

Resources suggested by Jax and NAMI

National Center for College Students with Disabilities

NAMI College Guide

The Steve Fund

The Jed Foundation

Mental Health America

Tags:

Peer mentor

Community

Community Mental Health

Mental Health

The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn Better, Feel Better, and Live Better by Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop provides a framework to consider why students approach school as they do. Mainly targeted toward parents, this newly published book (January 2025) can be helpful for educators and providers to help teens navigate their education and next steps. The writers walk through four types of engagement and what they could mean about how a student, or anyone, is approaching a particular aspect of their lives.

The passenger is quietly quitting, the achiever faces the perils of perfection, the resister is driving in reverse, and the explorer is productive and happy. How can we help students stuck in a nonproductive and unhappy mode while assisting them to develop skills and expectations for what makes sense for them and others around them? The writers have been there and have insights to share.

The Disengaged Teen

Tags

Zone of proximal development

Engagement

Disengagment

Adolescence

Parenting

High School