Quick Answer
Adopted children may face unique challenges related to attachment and trauma that can contribute to substance misuse. Parents benefit from understanding these connections while being part of a supportive community that recognizes the specific experiences of adoptive families navigating substance use.
Key Takeaways
- Adopted children may have underlying attachment and trauma issues that contribute to substance misuse
- A parent’s emotional state significantly impacts the quality and outcome of conversations about substance use
- Community support helps parents feel less isolated when their child experiments with or misuses substances
- Understanding the adoption experience can provide insight into why some children turn to substances
- Parents need resources and connection with others who understand the intersection of adoption and substance use
In this article
Episode Resources
- Listen to this episode on Hopestream
- TCA– Therapeutic Consulting Assoc.
- IECA– Independent Educational Consultants Assoc.
- Allkindsoftherapy.com
- Hopestream Resources
Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.
About the guest: Eric Fawson
Eric Fawson is a licensed clinical social worker who brings both personal and professional insight to understanding adoption and substance use. Adopted at birth himself, Eric has practiced therapy for more than 15 years and has worked with countless adoptees. He currently serves as a therapist at Elements Wilderness and has previously held the position of Clinical Director.
When adoptive parents discover their child is experimenting with or misusing substances, they often wonder if adoption plays a role. Eric Fawson, LCSW, who was himself adopted at birth and has worked with countless adoptees over his 15-year career as a therapist, offers valuable perspective on this complex intersection.
Why Adopted Children May Struggle with Substances
The connection between adoption and substance use isn’t always straightforward, but understanding the unique experiences of adopted children can provide important context. Many adopted children carry experiences related to attachment and trauma that may not be immediately visible but can influence their relationship with substances later in life.
Fawson brings both personal and professional insight to this conversation, having navigated his own adoption journey while serving as a Clinical Director and currently working as a therapist at Elements Wilderness. His dual perspective helps bridge the gap between what parents observe and what adopted children may be experiencing internally.
The Role of Attachment and Trauma
Attachment and trauma are central themes in understanding why some adopted children turn to substances. These aren’t abstract concepts but real experiences that shape how children see themselves and navigate the world. For parents, recognizing that substance use may be connected to these deeper issues can shift the conversation from blame to understanding.
‘be part of a community that understands what you’re going through as a parent with a child experimenting with or misusing substances’ — Eric Fawson
The trauma of separation, even when adoption occurs at birth, can leave lasting imprints. While not every adopted child will struggle with substances, understanding this potential vulnerability helps parents approach the situation with greater compassion and awareness.
How Your State of Mind Affects Conversations
One of the most practical insights Fawson shares is how a parent’s emotional state directly impacts conversations about substance use. When parents are anxious, angry, or overwhelmed, those emotions color every interaction, making it harder for children to open up or receive guidance.
This doesn’t mean parents must achieve perfect calm before addressing substance use, but it does suggest that doing your own work—managing your anxiety, processing your fears—creates better conditions for productive dialogue. Your child picks up on your energy, and a regulated parent is better equipped to help a dysregulated teen.
Finding Community Support as a Parent
Perhaps the most consistent message from experts and parents who’ve walked this path is the importance of community. Isolation amplifies fear and confusion, while connection with others who understand provides perspective, hope, and practical strategies.
For adoptive parents specifically, finding others who understand both the adoption experience and substance use challenges can be particularly valuable. This dual understanding helps parents feel seen in their unique situation rather than having to explain or justify the complexities they’re navigating.
Resources for Adoptive Families
Several resources can support adoptive families dealing with substance use. Books like ’20 Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew,’ ‘The Primal Wound,’ ‘Being Adopted,’ and ‘The Family of Adoption’ offer different perspectives on the adoption experience. Organizations like TCA (Therapeutic Consulting Assoc.) and IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Assoc.) provide professional support, while Allkindsoftherapy.com helps families find appropriate therapeutic resources.
The Hopestream Community and The Stream offer specific support for parents navigating substance use challenges, providing a space where parents can connect, learn, and find hope regardless of where they are in their journey.
Moving Forward with Understanding
Understanding the intersection of adoption and substance use doesn’t provide easy answers, but it does offer a framework for approaching your child’s struggles with greater insight. Rather than viewing substance use in isolation, this perspective invites parents to consider the fuller picture of their child’s experience, including the unique aspects of being adopted.
The goal isn’t to blame adoption for substance use challenges but to recognize that adoption can be one factor among many that influences how a child copes with life’s difficulties. With this understanding, parents can respond more effectively, seeking support that addresses both the substance use and the underlying experiences that may be driving it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are adopted children more likely to struggle with substance use?
While not all adopted children struggle with substances, some may face unique challenges related to attachment and trauma that can contribute to substance misuse. Understanding these potential vulnerabilities can help parents respond with greater awareness and compassion.
How does being adopted at birth affect a child’s risk for substance use?
Even adoption at birth can involve separation trauma that may not be immediately visible but can influence how a child copes with difficulties later in life. This doesn’t mean every child adopted at birth will struggle, but it’s a factor worth understanding.
What role does attachment play in adopted children who misuse substances?
Attachment issues can be central to understanding why some adopted children turn to substances. These experiences shape how children see themselves and navigate relationships, potentially making substances an appealing coping mechanism.
How should adoptive parents approach conversations about substance use?
A parent’s emotional state significantly affects these conversations. Working on managing your own anxiety and emotions before talking with your child creates better conditions for productive dialogue and connection.
Where can adoptive parents find support when their child is misusing substances?
Community support is essential. Organizations like TCA and IECA offer professional resources, while communities like Hopestream and The Stream provide peer support specifically for parents dealing with substance use challenges.
What books are recommended for adoptive parents dealing with substance use?
Helpful books include ’20 Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew,’ ‘The Primal Wound,’ ‘Being Adopted,’ and ‘The Family of Adoption,’ which offer different perspectives on the adoption experience.
AI Answer Summary
This episode explores the unique intersection of adoption and substance use, with therapist Eric Fawson sharing insights from his personal experience as an adoptee and professional work with countless adoptive families. Key themes include understanding how attachment and trauma may contribute to substance misuse in adopted children, recognizing that a parent’s emotional state significantly impacts conversations about substance use, and the critical importance of community support for parents navigating these challenges. Resources for adoptive families include books like ‘The Primal Wound’ and ’20 Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew,’ as well as organizations like TCA and IECA, and support communities like Hopestream.
Transcript
Brenda Zane: THE STREAM PODCAST RESOURCES LEARN ABOUT CONTACT DONATE THE STREAM PODCAST RESOURCES LEARN ABOUT CONTACT DONATE The Intersection of Adoption and Substance Use, with Eric Fawson, LCSW
Brenda Zane: January 12, 2023 Hopestream for parenting kids through drug use and addiction The Intersection of Adoption and Substance Use, with Eric Fawson, LCSW Play Episode Pause Episode Mute/Unmute Episode Rewind 10 Seconds 1x Fast Forward 30 seconds / Share Share Link Embed Episode 148 ABOUT THE EPISODE: Numerous studies show that adopted children are significantly more likely to develop substance use disorders. Is this true? If so, why? And how can parents of adopted children support and guide them through those tendencies? Today I’m speaking with Eric Fawson. Eric has been practicing therapy for more than 15 years, focusing on attachment, trauma, and the substance misuse that often accompanies these issues. He has served as a Clinical Director and is currently a therapist at Elements Wilderness. Eric was also adopted at birth and has worked with countless adoptees, making him particularly qualified to talk about the unique challenges facing adoptive parents. In this discussion, we’ll be exploring: why adopted children may struggle with addiction how parents’ state of mind can affect discussions about substance use and why it’s so important to be part of a community that understands what you’re going through as a parent with a child experimenting with or misusing substances EPISODE RESOURCES: TCA – Therapeutic Consulting Assoc. IECA – Independent Educational Consultants Assoc. Allkindsoftherapy.com Books: 20 Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew ( Sherrie Eldridge ) The Primal Wound (Nancy Newton Verrier) Being Adopted (Amy Wilkerson Lcsw) The Family of Adoption (Joyce Maguire Pavao) This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream Community Learn about The Stream , our private online community for moms Learn about The Woods , our private online community for dads Find us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunity Download a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and Alcohol Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links. adoption , Elements Traverse , Elements Wilderness , substance use Prev Previous Episode Next Episode Next Follow on Apple Follow on Spotify the parent’s gathering place Join us after the episodes Hopestream Community is a private online destination where parents find resources, education and personal connections when their child struggles with substance misuse, addiction, and mental health challenges. We teach skills that help improve communication and rebuild broken relationships, while empowering you to motivate your child to adopt or maintain healthier choices. Learn more and join us > You're supporting them, we're here to support you. You give so much…we’d love to give back to you. Subscribe below to receive our weekly email for parents. Subscribe Subscribe Instagram Facebook Podcast Youtube © 2022-24 All rights reserved. Hopestream Community Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit. EIN 92-1639939 We are also an Amazon Associate and earn from qualifying purchases you make from links on our website REFERRING PROFESSIONAL OR TREATMENT PROVIDER? > Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | FAQ
