Addiction Resources for Children, Teens, Parents and the Community

You and your children can find support, inspiration and education through these free online resources and activities available.

Three generation Hispanic family standing in the park, smiling to camera, selective focus

Beamer's World

Nearly one in four children in America grows up in homes impacted by alcohol or drug addiction. Not only do children exposed to addiction experience enormous stress in their daily lives, they are at far greater risk of some day developing substance use and mental health problems themselves.

Getting help with addiction starts with getting things out in the open, which is the bright idea behind Beamer, the loveable lightbulb character at the heart of Hazelden Betty Ford's programs and resources for children ages seven to 12 and their families.

Beamer's face lights up in different colors to show his feelings, making it easier for children to identify and let out their feelings too. Beamer's stories and activities also help kids learn about addiction and recovery in approachable, developmentally appropriate ways.

Beamer's Journey

1. Beamer Meets Addiction

Beamer learns addition has control of his parents.

Beamer Meets Addiction Video, Video Capture

2. The Last Day

It's Beamer’s last day to get his field trip permission slip signed but his parent's addiction makes him miss out again. He's angry and sad but also thinks it might be his fault.

3. A New Day

Beamer doesn't like to talk about his family. He's embarrassed. But he learns about the Hazelden Betty Ford's Children’s Program and he learns he's not alone.

4. The Turning Point

Beamer learns addiction is not his fault. He learns there are safe people that he can call when he’s scared. And he learns that treatment can help his family.

Beamer Turning Point Video, Video Capture

5. Treatment and Recovery

Beamer visits his mom in treatment and learns that addiction is a disease and sometimes it takes time to beat addiction.

Beamer Treatment Recovery Video, Video Capture

6. Moving On

Treatment and recovery is important for those with addiction but it's important for Beamer to recover too and to learn to just be a kid again and do the things kids do.

The following activities are designed for Children's Program participants and family members, and also offered as a free resource to families everywhere.

Filled with helpful reminders from Beamer and fun activities as well as information and resources for caregivers, this quarterly newsletter is mailed to Children's Program participants.

NACOA: Just 4 Kids and Just 4 Teens sections include videos, information about Alateen, the 12 Steps for Kids and the 7 Cs.
Sesame Street in Communities: Click on the topic of Parental Addiction and explore the activities we helped create with Sesame Workshop for children ages 4-10. You will find videos, a coloring activity with the 7Cs, a storybook and an interactive quilt activity for you to do with your children.
Al-anon and Alateen, Teen Corner, Alateen chat and literature for teens.
National Drug Abuse Hotline, 1-800-662-4357
Youth Crisis Line, 1-800-448-4663
Al-Anon Information Services, 1-888-425-2666
Alcoholics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous

Emmy's Question
Morningtidepress, St. Augustine, FL, 2007. By Jeannine Auth
My Dad Loves Me, My Dad Has a Disease
MAC Publishing, Bainbridge Island, WA, 1996. By Claudia Black
Kids' Power Too! Words To Grow By
Imagin Works, Dallas, TX, 1996. By Cathey Brown, Elizabeth LaPorte and Jerry Moe
My Dad's Definitely Not a Drunk
Waterfront, Burlington, VT, 1992. By Ellsa Lynn Carbone
Dear Kids of Alcoholics
Gurze Books, Carlsbad, CA, 1988. By Lindsey Hall and Cohn Leigh
Up and Down the Mountain
Small horizons. Liberty Corner, NJ, 1995. By Pamela Leib Higgins
Welcome Home: A Child's View of Alcoholism
Charles Franklin press, Edmonds, WA, 1986. By Judith A. Jance
Think of Wind
One Big Press, Rochester,NY, 1996. By Catherine Mercury
The Dragon Who Lives at our House
Rising Star Studios, LLC, Minneapolis, MN, 2011. By Elaine Mitchell Palmore
Alcohol: What It Is, What It Does
Greenwillow Books, New York, NY, 1979. By Judith S. Seixas
I Can Talk About What Hurts
Hazelden Publishing, Center City, MN, 1993. By Janet Sinberg and Daley Dennis
An Elephant in the Living Room
Hazelden, Center City, MN 1994. By Jill Hastings and Typpo Marion
I Wish Daddy Didn't Drink So Much
Albert Whitman and Co., Niles, IL, 1988. By Judith Vigna