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The loud “silence” of a growing epidemic among the Latino community

 · December 28, 2021
The end of the year can feel really heavy for a lot of us in our comunidad. It seems like sometimes people who are not a part of our culture might have a hard time understanding the emotionality that comes with this time for us as a people. 

BIPOC families are dealing with A LOT, and we’ve always had to cope with A LOT. Along with the pain around the significant loss of life these last couple of years, we carry constant grief. Though many of us may have been raised with lots of love, it often came alongside so much struggle even from our first years.

Within my immediate and extended family, we struggled with issues like incarceration, deportation, racism, domestic violence, child abuse, and a lot of addiction. And I know many children are still experiencing many of these within their familias.

In terms of addiction, my family really struggled with alcohol and cigarettes. I have clear memories of Tecate in the left fist, and a cigarro in the other. I picked up that this was what coping looked like. And by the time I turned 17, I began to struggle with cigarettes.

As I grew up, I learned how much of all of these addictive behaviors were due to cultural and intergenerational traumas. The woundedness that generates addiction hasn’t gone away fully in my family, and maybe not in yours either. 

There’s so much I want to share with my children about substance use, and it’s hard to know exactly how to go about it sometimes, though I manage. But I wish my parents and the family I grew up around didn’t feel a need so big that they felt they had to cope in those ways. I wish there would have been more support, and more access to shame-free places and spaces where understanding and guidance happened. I still wish this. 

That’s why I’m so happy to learn about the work of Partnership to End Addiction. Their work centers around providing families impacted by addiction with the support they need, and their resources are also in Spanish. We need this. And we hope that if you have a loved one who struggles with substance use or wants to learn how to have conversations with their children about using substances, they will use this resource.


According to recent data revealed by the CDC, the United States exceeds alarming figures in the face of the impact of drug use, and unfortunately the Latino community is not exempt. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the already terrible overdose epidemic. A report published in February describes that Hispanics have experienced more depression and suicidal thoughts during the pandemic, which has contributed to exacerbating already high rates of overdoses and substance use in the community.

This heartbreaking reality about the increase in substances, in addition to the limited access to services and care among Latino populations, underscores the urgency of a strong prevention and early intervention infrastructure to meet the needs of primarily Latino communities.

Partnership to End Addiction, a New York-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting family members concerned or impacted by a loved one's substance use, offers confidential and completely free services to the Latino community - with support available at English and Spanish. Their specialists are not only trained to offer families personalized support regarding substance use, but they also understand Latin American culture.

As of 2018, 20.3 million people have a substance use disorder (SUD)

 20.2 million people are in recovery*

Nearly half of all Americans have a family member or close friend with addiction** 

71% of Americans believe the country is not doing enough to address addiction***

Access to resources and services are nationwide and it is not necessary to reside in a specific state, so regardless of the state in which people are, Partnership to End Addiction is there to support them.  Their services are offered remotely either by phone, email and text message.

Partnership to End Addiction is committed to ensuring the confidentiality and privacy of those who receive its services. They will never question the immigration status of the families we help. Those who feel more comfortable providing us with personal information such as their name can remain anonymous and still receive the service. In this way, everyone can access the free services that the Partnership offers families regardless of their immigration status.

To have access to resources or services, no specific requirements are required. It is as simple a step as visiting the website in Spanish: https://drugfree.org/recursos-en-espanol/ and initiating the approach, either via email, telephone, or text message. Partnership to End Addiction offers support to family members (defined as parents, grandparents, uncles, cousins, friends, partners etc.), who are concerned about the substance use of a loved one and whether they are seeking information for prevention, early intervention , treatment or is in the state of recovery.

resources available 

Línea de Ayuda - (Helpline in Spanish)
Via Telephone: to schedule a call you can contact them at 1-855-DRUGFREE 

Online using the following link: https://scheduler-qa.drugfree.org/ 

Text Message: send the word CONNECT to 55753


Their Helpline is available to anyone who plays a supportive role in the life of someone struggling with substance use. Trained and attentive bilingual specialists are willing to listen to the challenges, setbacks and obstacles that family members are having. The specialists will propose a personalized course of action.
Connecting with a specialist is free and confidential. There are several methods with which you can connect with your specialists who will assist you in less than 24 hours.

Texting Program - Help and Hope
The Partnership to End Addiction offers a text program called “Ayuda y Esperanza” in Spanish for the Spanish-speaking community. These text messages are designed for parents and grandparents who are looking for prevention tools or for those who have just discovered that their loved ones are using substances. They are based on scientific evidence and offer skills and strategies for family members to know how to support their loved one. To register for the program, you just send a text message to 55753 with the word AYUDA.
Spanish Resources
On its website, Partnership to End Addiction offers educational resources that address topics from prevention, early intervention, to how to support a loved one in treatment or the recovery process.
There you can get science-based information and resources, information and resources to help family members like guides, e-books, videos, and much more.

Connect with Partnership to End Addiction

Website (en Español)Website (English)FacebookTwitterInstagram
*Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2019). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. 
**Gramlich, J. (2017, October 26). Nearly half of Americans have a family member or close friend who’s been addicted to drugs. Pew Research Center Fact Tank. 
***National Council for Behavioral Health and Morning Consult. (2019). Hill Day Survey: National Council for Behavioral Health Polling Presentation. 
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Leslie Priscilla

latinxparenting

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Crianza🌱Corazón🫀Cultura🌵Comunidad🪶
📣Parents, Former Latinx Kids & 👩🏽‍🏫👩🏽‍⚕️👨🏻‍⚕️
✊🏽Social Justice+Intergenerational healing
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latinxparenting

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May 25

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There was a señora, we’ll call her Doña Lopez, in the 16-week Reparenting series that I just completed for a long-term community partner. Doña López could WRITE. In multiple sessions, she would read something she wrote in between our times together. On the final night, which was Tuesday, she asked the group if she could read a four page letter that she had written to her mother, and intended to translate it for her daughter. She emailed it to me this morning, all four pages and in ink, signed by her. I recorded the audio (without identifiers) and I want to play it for the community with her permission at some point. She mentioned to the group that she had found the letter, but as I heard her read it and as she shed tears (and we all did), I knew they were her words. They were poetic words, poignant and beautifully painted on the page. I know good writers because I am one (or try hard to be one lol😅) Randomly, this screen shot from April 2022 came up in my memories on my phone, and it made me think about Doña Lopez, mother of three, immigrant, service worker, healing inner niña, and natural born ESCRITORA. I felt so proud and honored to be shared her writing. I didn’t even assign a final project! But I did weave in writings throughout that were meant to inspire some kind of creativity. Access to our artistry is liberatory. We continue to fight systems of oppression so that we can choose art. We deserve access to the parts of our brain that are not survival-ridden. Our comunidad especially is one FULL of brilliant minds. Doña López is just one or them. Now, go practice resistance by resting in an art practice. Mine is writing and dance. What is yours? What about your parents? Remember that I love you. ❤️ #LatinxParenting #EndChanclaCulture #RaisingFutureAncestors #DecolonizeOurFamilias #IJustWantMiGenteToHeal #TheCycleStopsConmigo

There was a señora, we’ll call her Doña Lopez, in the 16-week Reparenting series that I just completed for a long-term community partner. Doña López could WRITE.

In multiple sessions, she would read something she wrote in between our times together. On the final night, which was Tuesday, she asked the group if she could read a four page letter that she had written to her mother, and intended to translate it for her daughter.

She emailed it to me this morning, all four pages and in ink, signed by her. I recorded the audio (without identifiers) and I want to play it for the community with her permission at some point. She mentioned to the group that she had found the letter, but as I heard her read it and as she shed tears (and we all did), I knew they were her words.

They were poetic words, poignant and beautifully painted on the page. I know good writers because I am one (or try hard to be one lol😅)

Randomly, this screen shot from April 2022 came up in my memories on my phone, and it made me think about Doña Lopez, mother of three, immigrant, service worker, healing inner niña, and natural born ESCRITORA.

I felt so proud and honored to be shared her writing. I didn’t even assign a final project! But I did weave in writings throughout that were meant to inspire some kind of creativity.

Access to our artistry is liberatory. We continue to fight systems of oppression so that we can choose art. We deserve access to the parts of our brain that are not survival-ridden. Our comunidad especially is one FULL of brilliant minds. Doña López is just one or them.

Now, go practice resistance by resting in an art practice. Mine is writing and dance.

What is yours? What about your parents?

Remember that I love you. ❤️

#LatinxParenting #EndChanclaCulture #RaisingFutureAncestors #DecolonizeOurFamilias #IJustWantMiGenteToHeal #TheCycleStopsConmigo ...

13062 61

latinxparenting

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May 24

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[English Caption in Comments] Comunidad, una de las formas en que podemos honrar a las víctimas de la violencia armada es luchar por el control de armas para que ninguna otra familia o comunidad tenga que pasar por otra tragedia inimaginable. Nuestra voz es nuestro poder y no podemos darnos el lujo de permanecer en silencio por más tiempo. La violencia armada continúa siendo la principal causa de muerte en los niños y es hora de que le pongamos fin. La semana pasada hablé con Patricia Paduy-Oliver, quien perdió a su hijo Joaquín en el tiroteo de Parkland y fue una conversación que no olvidaré. Ninguna madre o familia merece perder a su hijo o ser querido por la violencia armada. Mientras recordamos a Uvalde hoy, únete a nuestra lucha junto con @mamasconpoder y @changetheref para exigir que el Congreso tome medidas contra la violencia armada de una vez por todas. 1. Firme la petición para que el Congreso sepa que es hora de prohibir los rifles de asalto militar AHORA. 2. Manténgase actualizado con @mamasconpoder enviando un mensaje de texto al 747464 3. Visite www.myfirstschoolshooting.org (http://www.myfirstschoolshooting.org/) para leer Mi primer tiroteo en la escuela por Patricia Oliver y @changetheref y envíelo a sus funcionarios electos. Cambiemos la realidad en la que vivimos y luchemos para asegurar un futuro en el qu e nuestras familias y comunidades se sientan seguras contra la violencia armada. #EndGunViolence #ViolenciaDeArmas #GunViolence #ParklandStrong #UvaldeStrong #stonemandouglas #uvalde #uvaldetexas #parklandshooting

[English Caption in Comments] Comunidad, una de las formas en que podemos honrar a las víctimas de la violencia armada es luchar por el control de armas para que ninguna otra familia o comunidad tenga que pasar por otra tragedia inimaginable.

Nuestra voz es nuestro poder y no podemos darnos el lujo de permanecer en silencio por más tiempo. La violencia armada continúa siendo la principal causa de muerte en los niños y es hora de que le pongamos fin.

La semana pasada hablé con Patricia Paduy-Oliver, quien perdió a su hijo Joaquín en el tiroteo de Parkland y fue una conversación que no olvidaré. Ninguna madre o familia merece perder a su hijo o ser querido por la violencia armada.

Mientras recordamos a Uvalde hoy, únete a nuestra lucha junto con @mamasconpoder y @changetheref para exigir que el Congreso tome medidas contra la violencia armada de una vez por todas.

1. Firme la petición para que el Congreso sepa que es hora de prohibir los rifles de asalto militar AHORA.

2. Manténgase actualizado con @mamasconpoder enviando un mensaje de texto al 747464

3. Visite www.myfirstschoolshooting.org (http://www.myfirstschoolshooting.org/) para leer Mi primer tiroteo en la escuela por Patricia Oliver y @changetheref y envíelo a sus funcionarios electos.

Cambiemos la realidad en la que vivimos y luchemos para asegurar un futuro en el qu
e nuestras familias y comunidades se sientan seguras contra la violencia armada.

#EndGunViolence #ViolenciaDeArmas #GunViolence #ParklandStrong #UvaldeStrong #stonemandouglas #uvalde #uvaldetexas #parklandshooting ...

386 8

latinxparenting

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May 22

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🎨: @tinamariaelena | “Shout out to the mothers who are healing their own childhood trauma. The mothers who are healing emotionally and spiritually. The mamas making the effort to break generational curses. And the mamas who are putting their children’s mental, emotional, and spiritual needs first. You are Superwoman without the cape, making sure you are raising emotionally intelligent children. I see you and I honor you.” —Toshia Shaw P.S. Our Healing the Madre Wound Introductory Workshop: Re-mothering the Latinx/Chicanx Mother is always accepting enrollees! Our workshop will not only support you in healing your Madre Wound, but help you in navigating your relationship with your mom, and setting boundaries when needed so you can thrive in your healing journey. Remember, when you sign up for ANY of our Escuelita offerings, you get an invitation into our ✨special community✨ with other alumni who have taken the workshop so you can connect & grow with others who are also healing their Madre Wounds. Visit our Escuelita in our L i n k i n B i o 🔗 www.latinxparenting.org/Escuelita #LatinxParenting #EndChanclaCulture #RaisingFutureAncestors #DecolonizeOurFamilias #IJustWantMiGenteToHeal #TheCycleStopsConmigo #MadreWound #Mothering

🎨: @tinamariaelena | “Shout out to the mothers who are healing their own childhood trauma.

The mothers who are healing emotionally and spiritually.

The mamas making the effort to break generational curses.

And the mamas who are putting their children’s mental, emotional, and spiritual needs first.

You are Superwoman without the cape, making sure you are raising emotionally intelligent children.

I see you and I honor you.” —Toshia Shaw

P.S. Our Healing the Madre Wound Introductory Workshop: Re-mothering the Latinx/Chicanx Mother is always accepting enrollees! Our workshop will not only support you in healing your Madre Wound, but help you in navigating your relationship with your mom, and setting boundaries when needed so you can thrive in your healing journey.

Remember, when you sign up for ANY of our Escuelita offerings, you get an invitation into our ✨special community✨ with other alumni who have taken the workshop so you can connect & grow with others who are also healing their Madre Wounds.

Visit our Escuelita in our L i n k i n B i o 🔗

www.latinxparenting.org/Escuelita

#LatinxParenting #EndChanclaCulture #RaisingFutureAncestors #DecolonizeOurFamilias #IJustWantMiGenteToHeal #TheCycleStopsConmigo #MadreWound #Mothering ...

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