Children of Addicts: Sesame Street Brings Unseen Stigma into the Spotlight.

But the makers of the enormously popular children’s educational show recognized an issue most of us don’t think about—the impact of opioid addiction on the children of addicts. All too often, persons addicted to drugs are also parents, and their struggles interfere with their ability to properly parent. This can have significant psychological impacts on their kids.

 Children don’t always understand what’s happening in the “grown-up world” their parents live in.  As they get older, children may come to realize that a parent has a problem with drug addiction. This understanding can be devastating, especially as kids become more aware of what other people around them think. Having a mother or father whose behavior draws negative attention can be stigmatizing for young children who become embarrassed but powerless to do anything. Having access to someone who can relate to these feelings is often a huge relief.

 That’s where Karli comes in. Karli is a 6-year-old green monster…whose mother is addicted to drugs. Because of this, Karli stays with foster “for now” parents because her mom’s in treatment.

Introduced as part of the Sesame Street in Communities branch of the Sesame Workshop, Karli helps “bring to life an issue that a lot of people think of as a grown-up issue, and don’t understand the impact on young children,” as Sherrie Westin, President of the Sesame Workshop Social Impact and Philanthropy told TODAY. Though just one character, Karli has come to represent the unseen millions of young children who have parents battling addiction. Sesame Street puts the issue up on the screen in a way that doesn’t stigmatize the character but instead shows Karli expressing her feelings in a normal way as she adjusts to her temporary new lifestyle in her foster home.

Any real solution to addiction must caringly but candidly acknowledge the pain of what all family members are going through, while placing enough attention on the needs of kids who may have experienced trauma or neglect. Many, if not most, children in need don’t get the level of care they need. Left untreated, children can experience feelings of shame, embarrassment, anxiety, and despair, putting them at risk of the same types of behavior as their addicted parent or parents.

Karli plays one small part in reaching out to such kids within their own homes. She helps offer coping skills, acts as a character they can relate to, and serves as a small and furry beacon of hope. Check out more about Karli’s educational videos and other resources on the Sesame Street in Communities project homepage.

One great printable page is Karli’s “7 C’s” which discusses critical lessons to teach children facing emotional distress related to parental drug addiction: “You didn’t Cause the problem. You can’t Control it. You can’t Cure it. But…You can help take Care of yourself. You can Communicate your feelings. You can make healthy Choices. You can Celebrate yourself!”