Position Aware Button
White Arrow Black Arrow

Treating Substance Use in Pediatric Patients: From Shame to Science

With Dr. Justine Welsh

Video Player

Stories to Solutions

A Conversation About Compassionate Care, Family Healing, and Systemic Change

Growing up in Homer, Alaska, Dr. Justine Welsh spent countless hours in the waiting room of her parents' mental health center, absorbing the stories and struggles of real people seeking help. Those early observations planted seeds of empathy that would eventually bloom into a career dedicated to helping young people and families navigate some of their most challenging moments.

Today, as Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Child, Adolescent and Young Adult Services at Emory University, Dr. Welsh brings both clinical expertise and genuine human understanding to her work. Her approach is about seeing the whole person, understanding their "why," and meeting them exactly where they are.

"I really loved working with families," Dr. Welsh explains, "but something drew me to the addiction world because individuals with substance use disorder and in recovery, they just have a powerful sense of resiliency."

The Reality We're Facing
The statistics Dr. Welsh shares paint a sobering picture of our current crisis:
8.7% of youth ages 12-17 meet criteria for substance use disorder

27% of young adults (over 1 in 4) have struggled with substance use disorder in the past year
1 in 3 Americans will develop a substance use disorder at some point in their lives

But behind these numbers are real families, real communities, and real opportunities for healing when we approach treatment with both science and compassion.

The Path Forward
Dr. Welsh's vision for the future is both practical and profound: healthcare providers who are as comfortable treating substance use disorders as they are treating diabetes, integrated care that doesn't isolate addiction treatment in silos, and a generation of medical professionals who understand that asking about substance use means being prepared to respond with compassion and competence.

"Being humble. Understanding that it is a lifelong learning process," she says about educating the next generation of providers. "I am continuing to learn and I learn from the families I work with who educate me every day."

A Conversation About Compassionate Care, Family Healing, and Systemic Change

Growing up in Homer, Alaska, Dr. Justine Welsh spent countless hours in the waiting room of her parents' mental health center, absorbing the stories and struggles of real people seeking help. Those early observations planted seeds of empathy that would eventually bloom into a career dedicated to helping young people and families navigate some of their most challenging moments.
Today, as Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Child, Adolescent and Young Adult Services at Emory University, Dr. Welsh brings both clinical expertise and genuine human understanding to her work. Her approach is about seeing the whole person, understanding their "why," and meeting them exactly where they are.
"I really loved working with families," Dr. Welsh explains, "but something drew me to the addiction world because individuals with substance use disorder and in recovery, they just have a powerful sense of resiliency."

The Reality We're Facing
The statistics Dr. Welsh shares paint a sobering picture of our current crisis:
8.7% of youth ages 12-17 meet criteria for substance use disorder
27% of young adults (over 1 in 4) have struggled with substance use disorder in the past year
1 in 3 Americans will develop a substance use disorder at some point in their lives
But behind these numbers are real families, real communities, and real opportunities for healing when we approach treatment with both science and compassion.



The Path Forward
Dr. Welsh's vision for the future is both practical and profound: healthcare providers who are as comfortable treating substance use disorders as they are treating diabetes, integrated care that doesn't isolate addiction treatment in silos, and a generation of medical professionals who understand that asking about substance use means being prepared to respond with compassion and competence.
"Being humble. Understanding that it is a lifelong learning process," she says about educating the next generation of providers. "I am continuing to learn and I learn from the families I work with who educate me every day."
See More
See Less
Links to Solutions
Meet Them Where They Are, Not Where You Think They Should Be
Dr. Welsh's harm reduction approach recognizes that lasting change happens through understanding, not ultimatums. "You don't have to agree to absolutely quit using substances to see me. I'll meet you where you're at." This philosophy creates space for honest conversations and real progress, even when the path isn't perfectly linear.
Education Beats Judgment Every Time
When a high-achieving student says marijuana helps their anxiety, Dr. Welsh doesn't lecture—she educates. "Adolescents want to know the why. They don't want to know the 'you should, you shouldn't.'" By explaining neurobiology, sharing research, and validating their experiences while offering alternatives, she creates partnerships instead of power struggles.
Addiction is a Medical Condition, Not a Moral Failing
"I would like to see addiction really being recognized on par, on level, with all other medical conditions," Dr. Welsh emphasizes. This shift in perspective—from shame to science, from isolation to integration—is essential for creating healthcare systems that actually heal rather than harm.
Meet Our Guest
Justine Welsh
Justine Welsh, MD, is a triple-boarded child/adolescent and adult addiction psychiatrist and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine. She is the founder and Director of the Emory Healthcare Addiction Services and the Medical Director of the Addiction Alliance of Georgia, a collaboration between Emory University and the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Dr. Welsh is the Associate Director of UCI's PC-TEAM track. Her research has focused on accessing evidence-based treatment for adolescents and young adults with substance use disorders. She has received award and grant funding from agencies including NIDA, NIAAA, and AACAP. Her co-edited book, Treating Adolescent Substance Use: A Clinician's Guide, was released in 2019.
‍
Dr. Welsh advocates for enhancing access to quality comprehensive treatment for individuals with substance use disorders. She recently served as a board member of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and currently co-chairs the Public Policy Committee for the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry. Dr. Welsh also provides expert consultation on reducing addiction-related stigma and enhancing medical education in the CDC's Division of Overdose Prevention.
Connect to Justine Welsh
TNT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UCIMedSchool
TNT Instagram:  @tntfellowships