Youth who are growing up with the stress and stigma of a parent's substance use have rights, too.
Every young person has the right to live without the fear of being discriminated against, the right to access stigma-free information about their challenges, a right to ask for support without fear, and a right to be protected from and to heal from harm. But many young people do not get to experience this right due to the stigma of a parent's substance use. We are peer advocates on a mission to change this.
When I was growing up, no one told me I had rights, not me, and not my parents. If we had known, maybe my dad could’ve gotten help instead of being punished, and we wouldn’t have felt so alone.
Starlings YAC member, Peer with lived experience
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What are Children's Rights? Children’s rights are the basic needs that all young people should be able to access to grow up safe, healthy, and heard. These rights are written in a document called the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), and Canada has promised to follow it. Children’s rights say that every young person, no matter their background or family situation, should be: protected from harm, violence, and discrimination; be able to access the resources, information, and supports to help them stay physically and emotionally healthy; to access mental health support that will help them heal from harm (and way more)! Children and their families don’t have to earn these rights, they’re yours, just for being you. But we know not everyone gets to experience their rights. That’s why at Starlings, we work to make sure young people impacted by the stigma of a parent’s substance use can access their rights without fear or shame. Because every young person matters.
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Do children whose parents use drugs have rights, too? YES!! Just because a parent struggles with their mental health or drug use does not mean that they or their children do not have rights. You and your parent have the same rights as everyone else. This means you should be able to find resources, supports, relationships that support you without fear of discrimination or other harm.
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What do I do if my or my families rights aren't respected? As peers, we have had our rights not be respected, or, we have witnessed the rights of our parents not be respected because of their drug use. If your or your family’s rights aren’t respected, especially because of their struggles with mental health or substance use, it’s okay to speak up, but we know not everyone will listen. You can ask for a support person to be with you, write down what happened, and reach out to someone you trust, like a teacher, advocate, or community group. It’s not your fault, and there are people and organizations who can help you be heard and supported.
Check out our NEW Children's Rights Toolkit!
This toolkit is for our 6-12 year old peers who are growing up with the stress and stigma of a parent's substance use (and their adult champions) as a reminder that YOU have rights and the adults and leaders in your life should work hard to ensure you experience them!
Coming May 2025
Our rights matter, too. Our rights matter, too.
Are you 16-28 and want to join a passionate crew of advocates in our youth and young adult advisory council?
What are we looking for? We’re looking for people who: -Have lived or shared experience with the stigma of a parent’s substance use (you do not need to identify to the pubic your lived experience). Our team is made of peers who have experienced the stigma of a parent's substance use such as not being able to talk to a counsellor for fear of being removed from our home, witnessing a parent be harmed by professionals because of their mental health or substance use challenges, and some of us have had a parent be criminalised for their struggles. Whatever your experience is, it matters, too! -Care about justice, equity, and creating change -Want to help others understand how systems (like healthcare, education, and child welfare) affect youth and families -Want to feel supported by a group of people with similar experiences -Are ready to learn, collaborate, and advocate alongside a team of peers
Some of the skills we value include: -Curiosity and a willingness to learn from others -Lived experience and a desire to share or hold space for others' stories -Creativity in writing, art, or digital storytelling -Comfort using social media or helping create content -Basic research or organizing skills -Graphic design or visual communication (Canva counts!) -A strong sense of justice and care for your community
Our rights matter, too. Our rights matter, too.