Parents' discovery that their son or daughter is using heroin has many of the elements of a terrorist attack. They never expected it could happen - not in their family. They feel unprepared to deal with such a crisis. Just like the aftermath of a disaster, the potential initial reactions to discovering that an adolescent is using heroin can be as varied as the individuals affected and may include shock, denial, anger, hurt and paralyzing fear.

Moving from denial to acknowledgment of an adolescent's substance abuse problem can be a painful step because it requires parents to reflect on their current situation as well as make predictions about the future. The realization that their world has been changed forever sets in. The trust they once had in their adolescent has been shattered. They may worry about whether they will have to go through a similar ordeal with a younger child. As difficult as this is, it is through this process of painful reflection that parents can become motivated to action.

When parents realize the seriousness of their adolescent's drug use, they can move from denial and disbelief to action and empowerment. However, often parents don't know exactly what to do. As a parent of a recovering heroin addict once said, "Heroin is the enemy and we have to fight it with everything we have." Identifying the "enemy" however, is only the beginning. Action alone is often not successful unless it is combined with information, strategy, and resources.

"Not in my house" was selected for the name of this web site to capture the process that many families touched by heroin go through, from initial denial, to acknowledgement of a problem, to empowerment and action. This web site seeks to provide parents with information about the effects of heroin, signs and symptoms of heroin use, types of treatment for heroin addiction, specific strategies for getting adolescents into treatment, and links to community resources. However, there often are no clear answers or easy decisions in this fight, and not every battle will be won. Parents must be prepared for a long-term response to their adolescent's drug problem, filled with many ups and downs.

And yet, there is hope. Every day countless families touched by heroin are in the process of rebuilding and recovering. Healing is possible. Those beginning the journey of recovery may benefit from knowing that they are not alone. Through this web site, you will have the opportunity to give and receive information and support. Often what seems unbearable to face alone is possible when faced with others.