Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10–24, resulting in thousands of deaths each year. As recently as 2021: Source: CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey Teen suicide facts can help parents understand this issue. We’ve gathered the most recent data on the topic to better equip parents to support their […]
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Understanding and Treating Addiction and Other Mental Illness Comorbidity in Teens
Studies show that over half of teens diagnosed with behavioral disorders or substance use issues are also dealing with at least one other mental health condition. In the realm of behavioral health, this overlap is known as comorbidity. Comorbidity with addiction and other mental illnesses is also referred to as dual-diagnosis or co-occurring illness in […]
Suicidal Ideation Scale: A Tool for Assessing Risk in Teens
Youth suicides and suicide attempts have steadily increased over the last several years, meaning more teens are at risk now. Assessing the intensity of suicidal thoughts is essential for determining the appropriate level of care for teens. A suicidal ideation scale is one tool clinicians use. Learn more about these scales and how they guide […]
Passive Suicidal Ideation: A Treatment Guide for Parents
In the United States, 18% of people under the age of 18 have thought about suicide. While parents may be aware of the rising rates of teen suicide, many have not heard of passive suicidal ideation. Learn about the condition, how it differs from active suicidal ideation, and how it presents in teens. What Is […]
Understanding Gender Envy: A Parent’s Guide to Supporting Struggling Teens
As kids explore and shape their identities, parents may encounter new concepts that spark curiosity. One concept that has come into focus, especially in online spaces, is gender envy. What Is Gender Envy? Gender envy isn’t a clinical term and can mean different things to different people. However, gender envy is a term that many […]
Teen Residential Treatment: Your Questions and Concerns Addressed
For parents searching for teenage behavioral healthcare treatment, whether it be for mental health issues, substance use, or both (dual-diagnosis treatment), the options can be a bit overwhelming. At Muir Wood, we’ve helped countless families navigate the process. Here are answers to the most common questions about how to select teen residential treatment. Note that […]
Understanding Neurodivergent Disorders
We’re all different—and the neurodivergent label acknowledges the unique ways that human brains develop, sometimes diverging from expectations. The term neurodivergence was coined to describe the wide array of differences in human thinking patterns and behavior. When these differences become clinically significant—sometimes including diagnosis through medical evaluation and cognitive testing—they can pose challenges to social […]
Therapy for Self-Harming: How to Find Professional Help for Your Teen
If left untreated, mental illness and associated behaviors like self-harm can worsen over time. Thankfully, a variety of professional approaches and interventions exist to help teens struggling with their mental health. Therapy for teens who are cutting or self-harming offers an alternative outlet for overwhelming feelings and gives them tools for healthy emotional regulation and […]
How to Talk to Someone Who is Self-Harming: 7 Steps Toward Healing
While it can be painful to discover that your teen is self-harming, the behavior indicates a need for support. Nearly 20% of teens worldwide have engaged in self-harm behavior—and most teens who hurt themselves do so because they are struggling with underlying mental health issues. It is also important to know that self-harm is not […]
19 Risky Teen Behaviors with Warning Signs and Questions to Ask Your Teen
In a 2021 CDC study, 2 out of 5 teens reported emotional distress during the year. Many of these teens turn to high-risk behaviors to cope, such as substance use, violence, or unprotected sex. These can lead to poor health outcomes and further exacerbate their emotional distress. It’s normal to feel concerned by troubling teen […]
Why Do Teens Engage in Self-Harm? The Underlying Mental Health Issues Explained
Self-harm behaviors can be painful to witness and difficult to understand. Why do teens self-harm? It’s generally because they’re in emotional pain—teens use self-harm as a coping mechanism for overwhelming feelings. If your teen has turned to self-harm as a way to cope with their pain, we’re here to offer hope and healing. Your thoughtful […]
Prescription Drug Abuse in Teens
The Different Types of Teen Prescription Drug Abuse Adderall Abuse Adderall is a powerful prescription drug, one that is, unfortunately, often abused by teens and young adults. The somewhat infamous drug is a potent combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, both of which act upon the central nervous system. Adderall is also a substance that many […]
Gender Identity & Dysphoria in Teens
Approximately 0.6% of Americans experience gender dysphoria—many are teenagers. Gender dysphoria stems from incongruence between one’s assigned sex at birth and their gender identity. The condition is typically experienced by transgender individuals. The distress of gender dysphoria is often magnified by the other stressors teens face, including social stigma, bullying, and harassment. All of these […]
Fentanyl is Killing Record Numbers of Teens in the US
There has been a significant surge in overdose deaths among American adolescents. A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association points to synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, as driving a troubling spike in overdose deaths among teens. According to the research by Friedman, Godvin, Shover, et al., the overdose mortality rate among US adolescents 14–18 […]
The Vaping Epidemic Among America’s Teens
Teen vaping — the use of e-cigarettes, or vapes, among teens, has become so widespread and so troubling that the Food and Drug Administration has started to take drastic action to counter the trend. Last September, the FDA ordered five brands—Juul, Vuse, MarkTen, blu e-cigs, and Logic—to submit plans to address teen use of their […]
California’s Problematic Cannabis Commercialization
The legalization of recreational marijuana use in California has set off an advertising boom on billboards across the state. They promise “Cannabis, the California Way!” and try to suggest that marijuana can help Californians say goodbye to stress or “get rid of pesky hangovers.” Another billboard promises “unrivaled potency” while asking users to “medicate responsibly.” […]
Codeine (“Purple Drank” or “Lean”)
“That Zan With That Lean”: Adolescent Substance Abuse and the Rap Culture The current opioid crisis has received much attention in the United States. According to government data, more than 47,000 people were killed by opioids in 2017. Across 52 areas in 45 states opioid overdoses increased by 30 percent from July 2016 through […]
The Vaping Epidemic Among America’s Teens
The use of e-cigarettes, or vapes, among teens has become so widespread and so troubling that the Food and Drug Administration has started to take drastic action to counter the trend. Last September, the FDA ordered five brands—Juul, Vuse, MarkTen, blu e-cigs, and Logic—to submit plans to address teen use of their products within 60 […]
Teen Rehab and Marijuana Use
Teen Rehab for Marijuana Use Disorder This article presents some of the factors associated with teen marijuana use that appear to be driving more and more adolescents into teen treatment of one kind or another. The number of Americans supporting the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana (cannabis) products has been steadily increasing over […]
Selecting a Drug Treatment Program
Finding the right drug treatment program for an adolescent isn’t as easy as running an online search on facilities located nearby. Addictions are complex disorders, and research suggests that treatment tends to be most successful when it’s perfectly paired to meet the person’s specific wants, needs and medical history. For example, a study in the […]
Peer Group Therapy for Teen Boys With Addiction
Teen group therapy for teens is an important psychotherapeutic tool. When substance abuse enters the picture, the negative aspects of adolescence are magnified, leaving family members feeling helpless and frightened. Teenage boys who become addicted to drugs are more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors like driving under the influence, having unsafe sex, getting into […]
Understanding Different Therapy Options
Teens in recovery need a different therapy options than adults. Therapy for adolescents should focus on the issues that young people face and teach them coping skills that are appropriate for their lives. Character development and esteem building are at the heart of a successful program for boys who want to become strong, self-reliant men. […]
The Use of Adventure Therapy for Adolescent Boys
Adventure therapy for boys can make treatment more engaging and enjoyable. If asked to draw a picture of the room in which therapy might take place, teen boys might sketch couches positioned close to chairs. They might spend time drawing boxes of tissue resting on coffee tables, and if they feel inspired, they may even […]
Our Approach to Teen Neuropsych Testing
Neuropsychological testing is an extensive and comprehensive evaluation process that encompasses a wide range of tests and allows treatment specialists to identify areas of need and specific challenges that can be addressed through a personalized treatment program. At Muir Wood, each patient begins his experience with neuropsych testing. Starting with this process allows us to […]
The Importance of Individualized Care
Individualized care can improve teen treatment outcomes. Deep down, buried inside the genetic code, people are different from one another. Those minor differences can be magnified and augmented as people age, as medical conditions take hold, memories form and experiences shape the way a person thinks and feels. At times, these differences don’t matter, and […]
Family Counseling for Teen Addiction
Family counseling is an important component of adolescent mental health and substance use disorder treatment. Addictions aren’t caused by bad parenting. In order for an addiction to blossom, a teen needs a perfect storm of opportunity, a willingness to take risks and a brain susceptible to the siren song of addictive drugs. Once an addiction […]
Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), is a mode of psychotherapy that addresses patient’s views as compared to other therapeutic interventions included in the CBT classification; it provides patients with a mixture of traditional problem-solving strategies as well as acceptance strategies. This means that patients are encouraged to accept the issues, situations, or relationships that they define […]
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents
During CBT sessions, patients are guided toward a better understanding of the complex relationships that exist between thoughts, feelings and actions. By better understanding the negative thoughts that lead to negative feelings and eventually to negative behaviors, patients can learn how to modify their perspectives in order to alter their approach to stressors in life […]
Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach
A-CRA reduces or eliminates substance abuse by increasing positive reinforcers for teens in areas of their lives related to family, social relationships, jobs and educational resources. By using A-CRA in treatment, teen boys are equipped with the tools they need to lead healthy, happy lives without depending on alcohol or drugs. Explaining the CRA Model […]
Understanding Teen Hormones
If you have a teenager going through puberty, you probably understand what the word “tumultuous” really means. Having an adolescent going through puberty isn’t an easy task but neither is going through it firsthand. We’ve all experienced the big transition back in our adolescent lives but sometimes we forget what it’s really like to experience […]
Teaching Self-Esteem to Your Teen
In the eyes of a parent, a child might be physically beautiful, emotionally generous and intensely intelligent. When that child looks in the mirror, however, the teen might see only bumps and flaws, and the teen might have additional concerns regarding intelligence and social interactions. Teens are often the harshest judges of their own capabilities, […]
A Teen’s Developing Brain
Sometimes teenagers can seem like different beings altogether. Some might say they’re over-reactive, dramatic, and impulsive. Is that true? Well, yes and no. It is true that teenagers and adolescents can often behave flagrantly and emotionally. Adolescents simply have different brain chemistry that hasn’t fully formed into adult brains yet. Brain Terminology Scientists say that […]
What to Do About Teen Bullying
In order to understand how to handle bullying that your son may be experiencing, it is important to understand exactly what bullying is. The media attention on bullying in recent years has shed new light on its harmful effects, but what is bullying, really? According to Stopbullying.gov, a website set up to address bullying in […]
The Role of a Life Skill Coach in Your Teen’s Long-Term Recovery
Recovering from an addiction isn’t easy. Teens who enroll in comprehensive programs for their addictions may desperately want to get better, and they may work hard to change when they’re surrounded by the culture of recovery in their treatment programs, but they may fall back into bad habits when their treatment programs are complete. In […]
Setting Goals for the Future
When you embark on a comprehensive drug and alcohol abuse rehabilitation program for your substance-abusing teen, you are opening the door to a path that offers him the opportunity to work toward a future that is bright and exciting. What defines that future specifically in terms of academic accomplishment, mental and physical health, and interpersonal […]
Preparing Your Teen for College
Getting a teenager ready to go to college can be a stressful experience for parents, especially if the teen is struggling with drug or alcohol abuse. Parents who have high hopes for their children may be devastated by the idea that their son is turning out to be an addict. Making it through this difficult […]
How a Teen Can Manage Peer Pressure
Peer pressure is a regular and normal part of growing up, according to an article in Psychology Today. Generally, between 10 and 14 years of age, children are the most susceptible to pressure from their friends. A teen becomes more capable of withstanding the influences over the remainder of his teen years and by the […]
Graduating High School After Treatment
A battle with addiction can put a teenager’s entire life on hold — including his education. One of the first signs of substance abuse in adolescents is a decline in academic performance. Teens who use drugs often skip class, neglect their homework and lose interest in sober extracurricular activities. As a result, their grades often […]
The Important Role of a Sober Escort
A sober escort facilitates safe transition between home and treatment environments. A teenager’s journey from addiction to recovery presents a lot of obstacles. Some of the greatest hurdles arise on the path to or from treatment. At these transitional times, unsupervised teens have the time and opportunity to fall back into their destructive habits. Even […]
Intervention Models of Approach Used on Teen Addicts
According to an article produced by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Almost 1.4 million adolescents met the criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence in 2002, and of these young people, fewer than 230,000 got care for that problem. It’s possible that some of these young people didn’t get […]
Residential Facilities for Prescription Drug Addiction
Prescription drug addiction among teens is a serious and growing problem. The non-medical use of prescription medications is common among adolescents, with 5.9 percent of those ages 18 to 25 reporting use within the month prior to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health. While some teens can recover from their addictions at home, […]
Teen Drug Addiction Treatment Program Advice
Finding out that a teen is using and abusing prescription drugs can be devastating for a parent. There’s no reason to give up hope, however, as these addictions can be successfully treated. The key is to find the right kind of program that delivers the right mix of services to help the child in need. […]
5 Tips for Success in Prescription Drug Rehab
Choosing a prescription drug rehab can be challenging for some families. Adolescent addiction treatment programs have been specifically designed to deliver big results to teens in need. Young adults who enter these programs with debilitating addictions to prescription drugs can emerge with the skills that can help them to stay sober in the years to […]
Teen Marijuana Rehab Statistics
Marijuana has become one of the most popular drugs of abuse among young people, and according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, most teens who start using this drug do so during the summer months, when free time is ample and supervision levels are low. Teens who use this drug on a […]
My Son Confessed to Trying Marijuana. Now What Do I Do?
First of all, I want to acknowledge and validate the fact that you have a strong enough relationship with your child that they feel comfortable to come forward and talk to you about this issue. That is a huge hurdle that you have already successfully navigated. Keep the Dialog Going My first piece of advice […]
Marijuana Anonymous: Support for Teens
Marijuana Anonymous, or MA, isn’t just for adults who are battling cannabis addiction. This 12-step group also welcomes teenagers who have a problem with marijuana and who want to stop using. Through meetings with other marijuana users and the guidance of a sponsor, teenagers can overcome the trap of addiction and regain their hope for […]
FAQ Marijuana Rehab for Teen Boys
Marijuana rehab for teen boys is becoming more important. Teens who use marijuana are at greater risk of negative effects and developing marijuana use disorder than previous generations due to the availability of high-potency marijuana products. Is Inpatient or Outpatient Care Best? The answer to this question depends on the preferences and circumstances of the […]
Parent’s Guide to Edible Marijuana Abuse
Edible marijuana products have been legalized for adult use in many states and have become more diverse and available. Smoking marijuana isn’t the only way that teens can abuse this drug. As the popularity of cannabis products grows, edible products containing the active chemicals in marijuana are becoming widely available to young people. Any food […]
Does Your Teen Need Inpatient or Outpatient Marijuana Rehab?
Treatment programs for marijuana addiction can be provided on an inpatient basis, allowing the addicted person to stay inside the facility while treatment is provided, or they can be provided on an outpatient basis, allowing the addicted person to continue to live at home. The two programs provide similar care, but some settings might be […]
Butane Honey Oil
Butane honey oil is a potent extract of cannabis that can produce an intense rush, even in long-time marijuana users. Also known as “BHO,” “hash oil,” “dabs,” “errl” or “wax,” this drug has a high concentration of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the active chemical in marijuana. When smoked, vaporized or ingested orally, butane honey oil acts rapidly […]