From Fear to Hope: Support For Parents Facing A Child's Substance Use & Mental Health Issues
There are conversations parents whisper about or avoid altogether because the fear and judgment feel unbearable.
This is one of them.
In this deeply personal and powerful episode of Spark Me, Michele and Liz sit down with Brenda Zane, parent advocate, certified coach, and founder of HopeStream Community — a nonprofit created to support parents navigating a child’s substance use and mental health challenges.
After her own son’s near-fatal fentanyl overdoses, Brenda turned six years of chaos, fear, and heartbreak into a mission: to make sure no parent has to walk this road alone.
This conversation moves beyond headlines and assumptions into the real lived experience of families — the exhaustion, the guilt, the confusion, the sibling impact, the treatment maze, and the hope that feels impossible some days.
If you are parenting a teen or young adult who is struggling— or love someone who is — this episode offers clarity, compassion, and a path forward.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
- What parents are really feeling when they first reach out for help
- Why substance use is often a solution to a deeper underlying issue
- The critical link between mental health and substance use
- What parents misunderstand about today’s high-potency marijuana and THC products
- The early signs of crisis — and what safety checks matter most
- How to navigate the overwhelming world of treatment programs
- The emotional toll on siblings — and how to support them
- The difference between controlling your child and influencing change
- The power of community and evidence-based support
- Brenda’s son’s remarkable recovery story — and what hope can look like
A Powerful Takeaway for Mothers
One of Brenda’s most important messages:
When your child’s plane is going down, you cannot go down with it. Parents — especially mothers — often strap themselves to their child’s crisis, sacrificing sleep, health, relationships, and stability in the name of love.
But you cannot help your child if you are crashing alongside them.
Taking care of yourself is not selfish.
It is strategic.
|It is stabilizing.
It is necessary.
Rest.
Eat.
Get support.
See a therapist.
Take the medical leave.
Your strength is part of your child’s recovery ecosystem.
What Parents Need to Hear
- You are not alone.
- This is not a parenting failure.
- There are evidence-based approaches that work.
- You do not have to solve this by yourself.
- There is hope — even when it doesn’t feel like it.
Resources Mentioned
HopeStream Community (Brenda Zane)
A nonprofit support community, podcast, and educational hub for parents of adolescents and young adults struggling with substance use and mental health challenges.
https://hopestreamcommunity.org
CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training)
An evidence-based approach that teaches parents how to influence positive change without escalating conflict.
The HopeStream Podcast
Brenda’s podcast featuring conversations with treatment experts, therapists, and parents.
If cost is a concern, HopeStream offers scholarships. No parent is turned away for financial reasons.
Keep Sparking
If this episode resonated with you:
- Share it with a parent who may need it
- Save it for the moment you need grounding
- Follow Spark Me so you don’t miss future conversations
- Leave a rating or review to help other families find this support
- And if you have questions you’d like us to explore in a future episode, email us at: sparkmepodcast@gmail.com
You are not alone in this.
There is a way forward.