Adolescent substance use can be a difficult and deeply emotional challenge, but healing is possible with the right support, trust, and connection.
In this Good Day Kansas segment, Saint Francis Ministries addiction counselor Amy shared how the organization works with teens facing substance use challenges and the hope that recovery can bring.
Amy explained that addiction is a disease—something that must be managed, not judged. A key part of her work is helping young people understand that addiction does not define them and that seeking help should not carry shame or stigma. Building trust is often the first and most important step, especially for youth who may have experienced broken relationships with adults in their lives.
Her day-to-day work includes meeting directly with adolescents diagnosed with substance use disorders, partnering with peer recovery coaches, and helping some youth engage in recovery support programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. Amy emphasized that connection plays a vital role in recovery, sharing her belief that “the opposite of addiction is connection.”
For many teens, substance use is tied to coping with difficult emotions, trauma, or learned behaviors from family environments where addiction may have been present across generations. Amy focuses on helping youth identify and process their emotions rather than avoiding or numbing them, with the goal of breaking harmful cycles and building healthier coping skills.
She described the transformation that happens when young people begin to see their own worth and choose healing for themselves. For Amy, those moments are the most rewarding part of her work.
Through compassionate behavioral health services and dedicated professionals, Saint Francis Ministries continues to help youth find healing, hope, and a healthier path forward.
