What do young people really understand about addiction?
And perhaps just as importantly, what do parents understand?
Those questions were at the heart of a recent conversation between Harris Insler and Jude DiMeglio Trang, host of the Gift of Need podcast.
In Episode #53, “Why We Need to Educate Students About Addiction,” Harris and Jude discuss the changing landscape of substance use, what students and parents need to know, and why honest, current education about addiction is more important than ever.
Listen to the full conversation with Jude DiMeglio Trang
Why this conversation matters
For many years, addiction was talked about primarily in terms of bad choices, lack of willpower, or moral failure. But our understanding of substance use disorder has changed—and the drugs young people may encounter today are dramatically different from those previous generations experienced.
That creates an enormous need for better education.
Students need accurate information about how substances affect the brain, the risks they face, and how misinformation can influence their decisions. Parents need that information too. Recognizing warning signs and understanding what addiction actually looks like can be critical before a problem becomes a crisis.
These are some of the issues Harris and Jude explore during their nearly 44-minute conversation.
More than a conversation about addiction
The discussion also provides an opportunity to talk about the work Harris has spent years developing through the Humane Organization for Substance Awareness, The Zach Project, and Voices from the Opioid Crisis.
Harris talks about how losing his son Zach to an opioid overdose in 2006 changed the direction of his life. He shares how grief eventually led him to listen to the stories of others and ultimately to create opportunities for people affected by substance use disorder to have their voices heard.
That journey also led to the development of the “It’s Not You Until It Is You” educational presentation, which brings personal experience and current information about substance use and addiction into schools and other communities.
But the conversation isn’t simply about what happened in the past.
It’s about what we can do now.
The importance of talking openly
One of the messages that comes through clearly in the conversation is the importance of talking openly with young people about drugs and addiction.
We can’t expect students to make informed decisions if the information they’re receiving is outdated, incomplete, or based on misconceptions.
And we can’t expect parents to recognize a problem if they don’t understand what they’re looking for.
Education doesn’t guarantee that someone will never struggle with substance use. But knowledge can create awareness. Awareness can lead to earlier conversations. And earlier conversations can sometimes make a difference.
Give it a listen
We appreciate Jude DiMeglio Trang for taking the time to have this conversation with Harris and for creating a space where difficult subjects can be explored honestly.
If you follow Harris or Voices from the Opioid Crisis, you may already know much of his story.
This conversation gives you an opportunity to hear some of that story in a different setting—and to hear Harris and Jude explore the larger question of how we can better educate students, parents, and communities about addiction.
Listen to “Why We Need to Educate Students About Addiction” on Gift of Need
And while you’re there, take some time to explore Jude’s other conversations and work.
We hope you’ll listen, share the episode, and help continue the conversation about addiction education.