The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs launched a new, free online resource specifically designed for the families of loved ones with substance use disorder to go for help finding support for themselves as they navigate their family member’s SUD treatment and recovery.
Caregiver Connection is a website for parents, grandparents, siblings and others supporting a loved one with SUD. It is a one-stop shop of resources such as locating a local or online support group, connecting with others who understand what they’re going through, how to find their closest county drug and alcohol office, where to get free Narcan, and more.
“We know that family members who have a loved one navigating substance use often feel overwhelmed, stigmatized, and don’t know where to look for help for themselves,” said DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones.
Caregiver Connection was developed in collaboration with Penn State Harrisburg’s Douglas W. Pollock Center for Addiction Outreach and Research – DDAP’s lead partner for the agency’s anti-stigma campaign Life Unites Us.
The campaign uses social media platforms to share stories of Pennsylvanians living in recovery from SUD and provides free public resources that are all research-based, like educational materials, SUD-related webinars, and person-centered supports like Caregiver Connection.
“Family members are often the invisible backbone of recovery, yet too many face stigma, confusion, and isolation as they try to support a loved one with substance use disorder,” said Director of Penn State’s Douglas W. Pollock Center for Addiction Outreach and Research Dr. Weston Kensinger. “Caregiver Connection was developed to meet families where they are—with practical, evidence-based resources, opportunities for connection, and clear pathways to support. By empowering caregivers, we strengthen recovery outcomes and help build more compassionate, stigma-free communities across Pennsylvania.”
The development of Caregiver Connection was guided by a Parent Advisory Board of family members with varying lived experience from across Pennsylvania advising on what to include, how to present it, and what language to use. Board members contributed their knowledge, perspectives, and personal experiences to ensure this tool reflects what families actually need.
