“Sesame Street” Is Taking On Addiction And The Opioid Crisis In America

“Sesame Street” is taking a new step to try to help kids navigate life in America by talking about the opioid crisis.

According to the Associated Press, Sesame Workshop is exploring the backstory of Karli, a bright green, yellow-haired friend of Elmo’s whose mother is fighting against addiction.

“Sesame Street” creators said they decided to discuss the issue of addiction after data came out showing 5.7 million children under age 11 live in a household with a parent battling substance use disorder.

“There’s nothing else out there that addresses substance abuse for young, young kids from their perspective,” said Kama Einhorn, a senior content manager with Sesame Workshop. “Even a parent at their most vulnerable can take one thing away when they watch it with their kids, then that serves the purpose.”

Reports say the segment pays close attention to the language used. Creators prefer “addiction” to “substance abuse” and “recovery” to “sobriety” because those terms are clearer to children. 

The online-only segments with Karli will feature Elmo’s dad, Louie, who explains that addiction is a sickness, and Karli telling Elmo and Chris about her mom’s special adult meetings and her own kids ones.

Viewers are referred to free online resources in both English and Spanish that include videos, storybooks, digital interactives, and games to help continue the conversation if needed, the publication reports.

Children’s therapist Jerry Moe, the national director of the Hazelden Betty Ford Children’s Program, helped craft the segments and resources. He shared with the publication that he was grateful to help since there’s been a paucity of resources for the preschool age-group.

“These boys and girls are the first to get hurt and, unfortunately, the last to get help,” he said. “For them to see Karli and learn that it’s not their fault and this stuff is hard to talk about, and it’s okay to have these feelings, that’s important. And that there’s hope.”

“Sesame Street,” which began airing in 1969, has a long history of tackling topical issues in a way approachable to children. The show has had puppets with HIV, jailed parents, autism, homelessness, women’s rights, and even girls singing about loving their hair and more.

Sherrie Westin, president of global impact and philanthropy for Sesame Workshop, said, “For everything we’ve done … it’s all about how to make children free to talk and to give parents the tools to do just that. They tend to avoid it, and it’s what they need more than anything.” Sherrie Westin, president of global impact and philanthropy for Sesame Workshop.