New Innovative Online Tools Help Families Chart Path from Addiction to Sustained Recovery

NEW YORK, May 28, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids and the Treatment Research Institute (TRI), today launched new resources that help guide families when they are selecting an adolescent substance abuse treatment program and then continuing care into long-term recovery.

"Questions to Ask Treatment Programs" is a comprehensive workbook that helps parents find the right help for their teen or young adult who is struggling with drugs or alcohol. Based on research conducted by TRI, the guide presents evidence-based indicators of effective treatment, and gives parents the questions they should ask as they search for the best treatment program for their child. 

"Continuing Care: A Parent's Guide to Your Teen's Recovery From Substance Abuse" answers families' most pressing questions about how to best support their teen's recovery following treatment. Once a child leaves a treatment program, many parents may feel uncertain and ill-prepared on what to expect from their child and how to support effective aftercare. This interactive website offers insights on how parents can set realistic expectations for their child's recovery, including how to help them adapt to their new environment in sobriety, how to avoid the people, places and things that can trigger relapse and what to do if relapse occurs.

"Not all addiction treatment programs offer a range of necessary, evidence-based practices, so one of the most important things parents can do is conduct their own research beforehand to better understand the specific approach of each treatment provider," said Steve Pasierb, President and CEO of the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. "Educating and empowering families upfront can save time, money, missteps and untold disappointment and heartache. Knowing what to ask – and being able to compare information from different treatment providers – will help determine which program is potentially the best fit for both the child and the family."

Added Pasierb, "Many parents expect their child to be 'fixed' when he or she returns home from treatment. But the truth is that addiction recovery is a process of change, in which people improve their health and wellness in order to live a full and rewarding life. Maintaining recovery is a journey – one that can be especially challenging for teens – in which families play a vital role in supporting their loved one through the process."

The innovative, digital tools are comprised of online animated videos, testimonials and customized workbooks that can help parents make informed choices for their child dealing with a substance use disorder. They are based in science and research and can help families create a detailed action plan for achieving and maintaining long-term recovery for their loved one.

"We recognize that finding the right treatment for an adolescent is an overwhelming task and many parents have no idea what to expect post-treatment or how to provide their child with guidance for a successful long-term recovery," said Kimberly Kirby, PhD, TRI Director of the Parents Translational Research Center. "It is our goal to provide parents with evidence-based resources to ease the burden and pressures associated with caring for an adolescent dealing with addiction."  

"Treatment is only the beginning of the recovery process for our children and for us as parents. The skills we learn at the beginning have yet to be applied in the real world – the pressures of life, school and relationships – all of which can be overwhelming," said Denise Mariano, a mother who has used the new resources. "The Continuing Care resource has been key in helping our child transition into this new world and is an invaluable tool for parents that not only answers many of their questions, but also serves to help guide families through this journey with their child. Like our children, parents too are in recovery and this guide is certainly a great resource to help us help our children."

The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids and the Treatment Research Institute collaborated in establishing The Parents Translational Research Center (PTRC), one of the first translational research centers of its kind. The PTRC is devoted to the research and development of practical tools for parents and other caregivers confronting issues of drug or alcohol use in their teenagers. These new resources were developed with a grant from The National Institute on Drug Abuse and add to the compilation of tools available to parents through the PTRC.

To learn more about these and other resources for parents and families please visit drugfree.org.

About the Partnership at for Drug-Free Kids
The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids is dedicated to reducing teen substance abuse and supporting families impacted by addiction. We develop public education campaigns that drive awareness of teen substance abuse, and lead teen-targeted efforts that inspire young people to make positive decisions to stay healthy and avoid drugs and alcohol. On our website, drugfree.org, and through our toll-free helpline (1-855-DRUGFREE), we provide families with direct support and guidance to help them address teen substance abuse. Finally, we build healthy communities, advocating for great access to adolescent treatment and funding for youth prevention programs. As a national nonprofit, we depend on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and the public sector and are thankful to SAG-AFTRA and the advertising and media industries for their ongoing generosity.

About the Parents Translational Research Center
In 2005, TRI began a collaboration with the Partnership at DrugFree.org (formerly the Partnership for a Drug Free America) to create science-informed helping tools for parents struggling to protect children from the dangers of alcohol and drugs. That collaboration led to the development of the Parents Translational Research Center, funded in 2010 by NIDA and one of the first translational research centers of its kind devoted to research and development of practical tools for parents and other caregivers confronting issues of drug or alcohol use in their teenagers. The Parents Translational Research Center has released several research-based tools for parents. Learn more.

About the Treatment Research Institute
Treatment Research Institute has been a leader in the substance use research field, with a belief that science can only be truly impactful when it is used to improve policies, programs and practices. TRI's work focuses on applying research to change behaviors, with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for individuals, families and communities affected by addiction. Collaborations with distinguished partners from across the globe have enhanced TRI's quest to advance the way in which addiction is perceived and cared for. TRI's relentless commitment to discovering and disseminating SOLUTIONS to substance-use problems drives its work, mission and vision. Learn more about TRI.

SOURCE The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids