ABOUT THE EPISODE:

Lara Okoloko wants parents to understand something important:

The majority of treatment options were designed for older adults with severe substance use disorders. She says we shouldn’t be surprised that young people with mild to moderate disorders are not interested in identifying with a permanent label of “addict” or “alcoholic” and swearing lifelong abstinence.

The standardization of treatment for older adults has also led parents to believe that anyone with a substance use disorder is destined for jail, institutions and death unless they find sobriety. Lara says this just isn’t true for kids and young adults.

As a 15-year practitioner and teacher of the CRAFT approach, Lara should know. She has served as a licensed clinical social worker for kids who are at-risk, in foster care, and drug-dependent, and now works with parents and families as well.

In this episode, we discuss in more detail why teens can be resistant to treatment, how the TV show “Intervention” changed our entire concept of treatment, the enduring myth that most kids are using substances, and why, despite its proven track record, CRAFT still isn’t the standard approach recommended and used for helping a loved one.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

• Lara’s website
• List of CRAFT-trained therapists in WA State
• WA State healthy use survey

Find a CRAFT-trained provider or organization at the Helping Families Help website

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