Emerging Drug Trends and the Effects on Safety and Risk to Children and Parents August 31, 2023

The increase of fentanyl and other substance use across the country highlights the need for child welfare agencies and workers to partner with substance use treatment to inform decisions on child and parents’ immediate needs for safety and potential future risk for a family’s well-being. Stigma about persons with substance use and mental health disorders influences how various service systems interact with families and calls for a family-centered collaborative approach. This approach remains a key ingredient to disrupting stigma and ensuring families access the services they need.