The new Sesame Street programming aims to resources "deliver the words children need to hear most: You are not alone. You will be taken care of. Addiction is a sickness and, as with any sickness, people need help to get better. And most importantly: It’s not your fault."
The beloved children's TV show Sesame Street is helping children understand the difficult topic of addiction with its new Muppet character, Karli! The 6-and-a-half-year-old Muppet appears in several new online videos which explore how her mom has struggled with addiction and is now in recovery in child-friendly ways. According to Sesame Workshop, the free resources "deliver the words children need to hear most: You are not alone. You will be taken care of. Addiction is a sickness and, as with any sickness, people need help to get better. And most importantly: It’s not your fault."
With over 70,000 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2017 — driven largely by 47,600 deaths due to opioid overdose — the scale of the epidemic is widely known. An often forgotten part of the picture, however, according to Sherrie Westin, president of social impact and philanthropy for Sesame Workshop, is the impact on children touched by addiction. "Addiction is often seen as a 'grown up' issue, but it impacts children in ways that aren't always visible," she observes. "Having a parent battling addiction can be one of the most isolating and stressful situations young children and their families face." With an estimated 5.7 million children under 11 living with a parent with a substance abuse disorder, Westin adds that there is tremendous need for more resources that address "some of the traumatic events that children are facing."
Karli first appeared on Sesame Street in May, when she arrived to stay in foster care with Chris, one of the human characters on the show. In the new videos on the Sesame Street in Communities website, which are available for free in both English and Spanish, Karli opens up about her mother's struggle with addiction and reveals that's why she was placed in foster care. This is also an experience many children in similar situations can relate to as a recent research study by Child Trends found that one in three children who entered foster care in 2017 did so due to parental drug abuse.
In one video titled Lending a Hand, Karli explains to Elmo how her mom is in recovery: "She goes [to a meeting] every day so that she stays healthy. My mom needs help learning to take better care of herself. So she talks to people with the same problem." She also shares that she also goes "to a special kids only meeting" of children whose "parents all have the same problem." In another video, Louie, Elmo's dad, explains that "addiction makes people feel like they need a grown-up drink called alcohol or another kind of drug to feel O.K. That can make a person act strange in ways they can’t control." Along with videos, the Parental Addiction section includes printable materials to share with kids, online interactive features, and questions that caregivers can use to engage children on the topic.
Karli isn't the first character on Sesame Street to tackle tough issues; in 2011, they introduced Lily, a Muppet whose family faced food insecurity and who later became homeless, and in 2015, they added Julia, an autistic Muppet who helps kids understand neurotypical peers. They hope that Karli's story will help support the many children whose lives have been touched by addiction. In a video with 10-year-old Salia, a Mighty Girl from California, Karli says, "I felt like my family was the only one going through it. But now I’ve met so many other kids like us." Salia agrees: "Right, we’re not alone. And it’s OK to open up to people about our feelings."
Books For Kids & Teens About Addiction
The Seventh Wish
The Seventh Wish
Charlie's needs always seem to come in last in her family — like right now, when she's struggling to save money for an outfit for her next Irish dancing competition. Then, while ice fishing one day, she catches a fish who promises to grant her wishes. However, Charlie soon discovers that wishes are never quite granted the way she'd hoped. And when she faces the huge problem of her older sister's heroin addiction, Charlie realizes that some things are too important for wishes: some things require hard work, sacrifice, and love. The magical twist to this story provides a gentle opportunity to talk about substance abuse and its effects on the whole family.
Sunny Side Up
Sunny Side Up
It’s 1976, and instead of spending the summer with her friends, 10-year-old Sunny has been banished to her grandfather’s retirement community in Florida while her parents struggle to get her brother’s drug and alcohol problems under control. Sunny isn’t thrilled initially, but as time goes on, she develops a closer relationship with her grandfather, meets a new friend, and discovers a new art form: comic books! This funny but heartfelt graphic novel tackles the issue of addiction and how it affects a family with sensitivity, and all the self-discovery that can come in a single summer. Fans of Sunny can continue her story in the rest of the Sunny series.
Beneath a Meth Moon
Beneath a Meth Moon
After 15-year-old Laurel lost both her mother and grandmother in Hurricane Katrina, she's still struggling with grief — even if her new life as a cheerleader dating a popular athlete looks perfect. Then her new boyfriend introduces her to meth, which erases Laurel's pain, at least for a while. As she spirals into addiction, though, she feels more helpless than ever. Fortunately, with the support of caring friends, she's able to find a way to muster her strength and leave meth behind. Stunning and dreamlike, this novel captures the ease with which addiction can capture the vulnerable — and the power of supportive relationships to help them escape.
David and Nic Sheff are a father/son author team who know first-hand about the consequences of addiction: after Nic became addicted to methamphetamines, the pair had to struggle to keep their relationship together and help Nic get — and stay — sober. In this book, the Sheffs talk to teens about drugs, alcohol, and addiction, using testimonials from peers and families who have lived through substance abuse and facts about the toll that drugs can take on your body. It's a much-needed guide to the realities of substance abuse.
If You Find Me
If You Find Me
15-year-old Carey has lived in a broken-down camper as long as she can remember, where she cares for her younger sister Jenessa and her mother, whose untreated bipolar disorder and addiction to meth make her erratic and neglectful. And one day, instead of her mother coming home, two strangers arrive to take them to live with Carey's father instead. This new home is overwhelming to Casey, who's forced to face the reality of why her mother abducted her — and confess the secret that haunts both her and her sister. This painful story that reveals the true horrors of uncontrolled addiction and sexual abuse is still tinged with hope for a better future.
The news are full of stories about the opioid epidemic — but how did we get here? Sam Quinone's award-winning book Dreamland explored the roots of the opiate crisis, and now it's been adapted for young adult readers. In this unflinching examination of the issue, Quinones shows how pharmaceutical companies pushed OxyContin even though they had evidence of it being extremely addictive, and how its rise paralleled an increase in black tar heroin. Complete with tales from survivors and family members touched by addiction, this is a powerful call to action to reach out to those in need and end the epidemic.
Heroine
Heroine
Mickey is a star softball player on her way to a promising college future — until the accident. Recovery means surgeries, painful therapy... and painkillers. The painkillers don't just allow Mickey to work on getting back behind the plate; they also give her a peace she's never known before. But as the pressure mounts to get back on the field, Mickey's fears and desires push her towards the pills more and more often — and if she can't get those, she hears there are other things that might help. This raw and real novel humanizes those caught up in the opioid crisis, helping teen readers recognize that the line of addiction is all too easy to cross.
The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence
The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence
Jessica Lahey, bestselling author of The Gift of Failure, knows addiction runs in her family — but she also knows that all kids are at some risk of substance abuse. In fact, teen drug addiction is one of the most costly — and most preventable — health problems in America... and nine out of ten adults who struggle with addiction report they started using substances before age 18. In this empowering book, Lahey draws on up-to-date research in psychology, neuroscience, and child welfare to provide adults with the strategies they need to help kids avoid addiction at every age and stage. From how to talk about substance use and addiction with kids of all ages, to recognizing early signs of abuse, this accessible resource will help parents, teachers, and all concerned adults raise addiction-free kids.
