Few aspects of parenting compare to the challenges you face in talking to your children about addiction. Whether this conversation is necessary because of your health crisis or someone else they know and love, your primary goals are to alleviate their fears and assure them they’re not to blame. Fortunately, there are many books segmented by age to help you explain what’s happening and put your children’s minds at ease.
Books to Help Your Children Understand Addiction
Through storytelling, you can provide a safe space for kids to think about the concepts of substance use disorder (SUD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) and, if they need to, ask questions.
Ages 2–5
- Critters Cry Too: Explaining Addiction to Children by Anthony Curcio
Critters didn’t need much to be happy until Whateveritwas—and then, all they could think about was getting more Whateveritwas. This book helps young ones begin to understand the concepts of feeling alone, talking about emotions, erratic behavior, and loving someone with chemical dependency.
- Stoney the Pony’s Most Inspiring Year: Teaching Children About Addiction through Metaphor by Linda Myers
Myers is a therapist who works with youth who have AUD and SUD. In this book, Stoney “just can’t stop eating peppermint candies.” As he becomes fixated on them, his behavior changes, and he wants nothing to do with anything—or anyone—else. Myers uses “Points for Parents” to help initiate conversations and respond to your children’s questions.
- Where Did Mommy Go? By Kandace Marugg
Spook’s mommy is going to a treatment center so she can get better and not drink her strange milk anymore. This book aims to assure children they’ll be safe and taken care of while their parent is gone and to help them feel confident while going through changes.
- The Bad Dragon by Michael Gordon
While they might not know what’s happening, young children pick up on erratic emotions and tones of voice. The dragon in this book moves through emotions and actions such as anger and rudeness. Gordon has other books in this series that deal with less-than-positive emotions.
Ages 6–11
- Moon Pie by Simon Mason
Although Martha is trying to understand what’s happening with her dad and take care of her family, she soon learns when it’s important to ask for help. This book, with an 11-year-old protagonist, discusses aspects of grief, addiction, and depression.
- When a Family Is in Trouble: Children Can Cope With Grief from Drug and Alcohol Addiction by Marge Heegaard
This illustrated workbook allows your children to draw and fill in responses to key prompts about feelings, such as “I feel sad when….” It also presents various opportunities to have discussions about safety issues, what kids observe in someone’s actions, and other significant issues.
- An Elephant in the Living Room by Jill M. Hastings and Marion H. Typpo
First released in 1994, this book continues to be a helpful resource for explaining addiction to your children because of its interactive approach. Caregivers can use fill-in-the-blank prompts, illustrations, and other methods to help older children work through what they’re hearing, observing, and experiencing.
- My Dad Loves Me, My Dad Has a Disease: A Child’s View: Living With Addiction by Claudia Black, PhD
Told from a child’s perspective, this book uses different approaches, such as drawing sections and Q&As, to help children process what’s happening in their family. If they feel they can’t talk to anyone else, this helps them identify and discuss various feelings such as fear, frustration, loss, and sadness. Black specializes in working with children and young adults regarding the complications of addiction and codependency.
Ages 12+
- Different Like Me: A Book for Teens Who Worry About Their Parent’s Use of Alcohol/Drugs by Evelyn Leite and Pamela Espeland
Although this book debuted in 1989, the approach is still relevant. Evelyn Leite, a therapist, and Pamela Espeland, a children’s author, explain the nature of chemical dependence, advise children who have parents with SUD or AUD on what they can do to handle different points of life, and clear up misconceptions about addiction.
- Buzz to Buzzkill: How Alcohol and Dopamine Hack Your Brain by Annie Grace and Mary Purdie
The authors approach factual aspects of biology and brain science with interesting explanations and vibrant illustrations to explain addiction in a comprehensive way. Its goal is to provide facts without judgment so young people can make educated choices.
- Why Don’t They Just Quit? What Friends and Families Need to Know About Addiction and Recovery by Joe Herzanek
Herzanek battled addiction between the ages of 13 and 29. Now, as a chaplain and the founder of the Changing Lives Foundation, he uses the foundation of his sobriety journey to provide straight-up, off-the-cuff answers regarding addiction.
- High by David Sheff & Nic Sheff
The authors, a father and son team, use testimonials from tweens, teens, and their families to explain the realities of alcohol, drugs, and addiction. The goal is to help middle schoolers have access to grounded explanations based on fact.
Healing for the Whole Family at Fair Oaks
Our board-certified professionals at Fair Oaks Recovery Center in Sacramento, California, strive to provide access to whole-person care that benefits all aspects of your life. If your individualized treatment requires healing the family dynamic due to the ravages of addiction, call today to learn how we can help. We’ve earned the status of a licensed Chemical Dependency Recovery Hospital, issued by the California Department of Public Health to addiction rehabilitation and dual diagnosis treatment facilities that provide high-level acuity care. One of our admissions specialists can explain more.
