Addiction Resources

Where can I find educational resources about substance use disorder?

You can find lots of helpful information right here on shatterproof.org. For more, we recommend the following:

• Learn all about alcohol use disorder with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), leaders in the nation’s research efforts on the topic.
• Browse the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) who offers free publications on addiction treatment and prevention for children and families.
• Visit The Opioid Response Network providing free educational resources to individuals in the prevention, treatment and recovery of opioid use disorders and stimulant use.
• Understand addiction and how to address a child’s substance use with the resources and guides from The Family Resource Center.
• Sesame Street is leading efforts to support children’s understanding of addiction and in navigating difficult family dynamics.
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) offers tools for families dealing with mental and substance use disorders.
• The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation provides a family toolkit to support families facing drug and alcohol addiction.
• Partnership to End Addiction gives parents direct support to prevent and cope with teen drug and alcohol use.
• The National Organization of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) is dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals and families affected by alcohol use.
• The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is a division of the Department of Health & Human Services promoting the economic and social well-being of families, children, and communities.
• The National Association for Children of Addiction (NACoA) offers a range of resources on the impact of alcohol and drug use on children and families.

Where can I find family support groups?

While there are many family support groups available nationwide, we found the ones below to be valuable and suitable for a variety of ages.

• The Daily Pledge is a free, online support group and social community created by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, for anyone affected by drug and alcohol addiction.
• Families Anonymous supports family members of people with a drug or alcohol addiction or with related behavioral health conditions.
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides help for family members of anyone who has experienced the symptoms of a mental health condition.
• Learn 2 Cope is a non-profit support network offering education, resources, peer support and hope for parents and family members coping with a loved one addicted to opioids or other drugs.                   
• Camp Mariposa is a year-round addiction prevention and mentoring program for youth affected by the substance use of a family member.
• The Confidant Health app matches you to other individuals for support and recovery purposes.
• Join virtual meetings, chats, and resources from:
  • Nar-Anon  
  • Al-Anon  
  • SMART Recovery Family & Friends
• Visit Partnership to End Addiction. This nonprofit offers peer support and one-on-one help from specialists if you have a child who’s struggling with addiction.
• If you have an older loved one, be sure to check out Dependency & Addiction Among Seniors via ParentsGiving.com. They provide information for identifying and preventing risky substance use among elderly people.

Are there evidence-based drug prevention programs for youth and families?

The following are evidence-based prevention programs for children and young adults in collaboration with parents to educate youth on life skills, conflict resolutions, substance use prevention and efficient communication techniques.

• The Botvin Life Skills Training (LST) program is a comprehensive evidence-based prevention program for middle school students.
• The Narconon Truth About Drugs is an evidence-based drug education program targeting middle and high school students.
• The Iowa State University Strengthening Families Program: focused on education about the risk factors for developing a substance use disorder and provides information in managing family conflict and encouraging positive child involvement in family activities.
• The University of Georgia’s Strong African American Families program focuses on bolstering strong parental relations between parents and adolescents with the goal to prevent alcohol and drug use in youths.
• Blueprint’s Guiding Good Choices is a parent-focused intervention program about setting expectations, monitoring children, coping with peer pressure, conflict resolution and improving family relationships.

Are there any scholarships for children of parents with a substance use disorder?

There are scholarships available for students studying or going through difficult moments as a result of living with a parent with a substance use disorder or losing a parent to substance use. Please check back periodically, as we will update this list as more opportunities become available.

• The New York Times College Scholarship is a scholarship for New York City high school students having achieved academic excellence while enduring a hardship or difficult life experiences.
• The Hope for Addiction  scholarship offers financial assistance for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees with the intention of helping people experiencing addiction.
• The Lisa Michelle Memorial Fund provides educational scholarships to students who have lost a parent to alcohol and drugs.

I need help with grieving a loss, where can I find support?

Grieving the loss of a loved one is difficult. Thankfully, there are many organizations dedicated to supporting individuals and families processing a significant loss. Below are the ones we recommend.

• Visit Grief Recovery After a Substance Use Passing (GRASP). They offer free local support meetings, plus book recommendations and other helpful resources.
• Join The Dinner Party, a community specifically dedicated to 20 and 30somethings who’ve experienced significant loss. Visit their website to browse resources and get connected with a local table.
• Grief Anonymous offers meetings and resources, including a family hub Facebook group.

What do I do if I or someone I love needs treatment?

Navigating treatment options can be a confusing and time-consuming process. The resources below will be helpful to you in your recovery. No matter where you look for treatment, it should follow these science-based best practices: Shatterproof National Principles of Care.

• If you are not sure what type of treatment is right for you or a loved one, start with our Addiction Treatment Needs Assessment to get a recommendation.
• If you live in Delaware, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, or West Virginia, you can use Shatterproof’s Addiction Treatment Locator, Analysis, and Standards Platform ATLAS to find trustworthy information about addiction treatment near you.
• Visit findtreatment.gov, a nationwide treatment locator created by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
• Recursos en español de Health Advisor este informe identifica las lagunas de addición, la salud mental y provee recursos locales en español.
• Recursos en español de NIDA aqui podra encontrar recursos para el tratamiento de uso de drogras y la recuperación.

How about resources for people in recovery?

There are many support groups available for individuals in recovery. We recommend you start with the resources below. We will continue to update this section of the site, so please check back often.

• Use Google’s custom map to find many types of recovery meetings, from NA and AA to secular approaches like SMART Recovery, in your area.
• Try In the Rooms, a global recovery community offering a variety of virtual group meetings several times a day.
• Visit Virtual resources from SAMHSA. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has pulled together lots of helpful recovery resources, from virtual meetings to Reddit threads and other sites and message boards. 
• Check out LifeRing Secular Recovery. This organization's philosophy is that "there are as many ways to live free of drugs and alcohol as there are stories of successful sober people."
• Visit Tempest, an online recovery community offering free recovery and peer support, plus a great blog filled with interesting stories and advice.
• Download the Addiction Policy Forum's Connections App. In partnership with CHESS Health, this nonprofit has created a research-based app to help manage and support recovery.
• Go to Recovery Research Institute for helpful links to a variety of recovery supports.

How can I get access to naloxone?

Most states make naloxone available for purchase in pharmacies without a prescription. Visit Safe Project to read your state's rules on naloxone. Below are a few resources on how to obtain free naloxone kits.

• Visit National Harm Reduction Coalition, a national nonprofit serving people who use drugs. They offer naloxone and syringe access, harm reduction trainings, and connections to local groups.
• Go to Naloxoneforall.org, an organization that sends naloxone through the mail to individuals at no cost.  HERE are the states they operate in.  
• Find Naloxone in your state with Recover Together with Google, an interactive tool with helpful addiction resources and naloxone locator.
• Next Distro is an organization focused in advocating for addiction health resources and naloxone distribution in the U.S. They provide free to low-cost Naloxone access all over the nation.
• Free Naloxone Kits in NYC: Obtain Naloxone (Narcan) from a New York City Opioid Overdose Prevention Community-Based Program (PDF).
• Get a FREE Emergency Overdose Rescue Kit from the NYC Emergency Overdose Rescue Kit Program (PDF)

Where can I do a substance test for nonprescribed fentanyl? 

Due to individual state laws, rapid fentanyl test strips (FTS) are not widely available. Below are organizations that can assist you further.

• Visit Harmreduction.org, a coalition centered on evidence-based strategies with and for people who use drugs. Their website provides a breakdown on all you need to know about fentanyl.
• Get free fentanyl test strips from Fent Check, an organization solely focused on providing tests strips in the state of California.
• APLA Health is an organization seeking to bring equitable health care services to members of the LGBT community. They provide free fentanyl test kits in California. Visit https://aplahealth.org/fentanyl/ to learn how to receive yours.

I need to talk to someone. Who can I call if I am going through a crisis?

You are not alone. Reach out to the following support hotlines for immediate help. If you have an emergency, please dial 911.

• SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) 
• National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 

How can I contact my elected officials?

If you have additional questions, would like to find out if more local resources are available, or would like to talk to leaders about this important issue, reach out to your local elected officials' offices.