Our Founder

I was one of them—a child caught in the crossfire of addiction. I grew up navigating the silence, the shame, and the unpredictable storm that came from a parent’s substance use. There were no safe spaces to talk. No one was checking in. No programs that understood the unique trauma children of addicts face daily.

 

That silence follows children into their teens, their relationships, and their adult lives. It shows up as anxiety, depression, shame, and sometimes the very cycle of addiction they fought to avoid. I founded Not My Addiction to break that silence.

 

Our nonprofit creates safe spaces, support circles, and youth leadership programs designed specifically for children of parents battling addiction. Through peer support, mentorship, creative expression, and mental health advocacy, we’re helping these young people understand:

 

“You are not your parent’s addiction. You are worthy. You are seen. You are not alone.”

 

In our first year, we’ve connected with young people whose voices had never been heard before. One teen told us:

 

“This was the first time I didn’t feel like I had to hide who I was. I didn’t know other kids were going through the same thing.”

 

The trauma of parental addiction often lives in silence. We are ending that silence with empathy, education, and empowerment.

 

Because healing doesn’t start with a cure. It starts with connection