Parents of Opioid Users

Tell me the story of your child’s addiction.

How is your child doing today?

When did you first realize you were dealing with a drug addiction problem?

During all of this, what was your biggest fear?

When you think back, was there anything that put your child at risk for drug addiction?

Have you wondered whether you could have done something different as a parent to prevent your child’s addiction?

Has your child’s addiction affected how people treat you?

Couldn’t your child have made better decisions and not abused opioids? Was your child just weak-willed?

Did you ever try shaming or punishing your child to make them stop?

Did you ever feel ashamed or disgusted with your child?

Did you ever feel hopeless or want to give up on your child’s drug abuse?

Parents in your position are often stuck between wanting to help their child and wanting to cut them off. Were you ever worried you were enabling the drug abuse by trying to support your child financially or by providing meals or housing?

How many times did you give your child money and worry they were just using it for drugs?

Where do you think the line is between supporting and enabling your child?

What happened or needs to happen to get your child into recovery?

Can you identify anything positive that has come from your experience with opioid addiction?

What are you doing to cope?

How are you doing today?

Do you have any advice for parents currently trying to help their child deal with opioid addiction?

What advice can you give to parents of younger children so they can help their kids avoid opioid addiction?

List two things you think need to happen that will help put an end to the opioid crisis.

Why do you want to remain anonymous and not have your picture connected with your interview? Why do you want to have your image connected with your interview?

Is there anything else you would like to add?