Though many have viewed the use of Ecstasy, or 3,4-methylendioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), as harmless due to its “feel good” effects on the user, research has come out demonstrating that it is in fact exceedingly damaging to cognitive ability. Additionally, impulse control was also negatively impacted by use of the drug, and decision-making abilities specifically were impaired. […]

Depending upon the method of ingestion, your teen may possess or reference in conversation with friends a number of different paraphernalia items in the use of crack and/or cocaine. In most cases, these items are not purchased but instead are everyday items that are repurposed for drug use and abuse. The use of everyday items […]

Laws National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and while the restrictions vary from state to state, most communities require young people to abstain from either purchasing or ingesting alcohol until they reach age 21. By this time, the thinking goes, young people have reached an age at which they’re better able to control their […]

Combining alcohol with caffeine isn’t new, as anyone who has slurped down a cup of Irish coffee can attest. But there’s a new kind of drink being sold in some convenience stores, and it blends remarkably high amounts of caffeine with similarly U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 31 percent of youth ages 12 […]

Teenage drunk driving is an extremely dangerous problem that can lead to devastating consequences. For teens, a driver’s license is a ticket to freedom. Instead of asking parents and friends for rides to far-flung places, they can simply slide behind the wheel, fire up the engine and motor to their destination without a care in […]

Even though national statistics show that alcohol abuse in teens has declined in recent years, the frequency of abuse and the amount of the drug consumed still exceed most other substances, reports the National Institute on Drug Abuse. For example, in 2013, nearly 13 percent of 10th graders and 26 percent of 12th graders reported […]

But as the public becomes more aware of the health risks of binge drinking, parents and educators are becoming more concerned about these activities. Drinking games encourage young people to consume large quantities of alcohol within a short period of time, putting them at risk of alcohol poisoning. Other risks of binge drinking include: Accidental […]

Prevention efforts across the country have been in full force for decades to promote the knowledge that drinking and driving is deadly. Teenagers, specifically, have been targeted with this campaign in an effort to decrease the number of teen lives lost to drunk driving accidents. But is alcohol use during the teen years any more […]

Comorbidity: A merger of Mental Illness and Addiction Teens who suffer from addiction may also be suffering from mental illness. In such cases, both issues need to be treated. An addiction can leave a teen feeling amazingly out of control. Thoughts of drugs pass across the teen’s mind all day, and the night might be […]

Cough Syrup Abuse Even teens who normally wouldn’t dream of touching illegal drugs will often experiment with cough syrup, falsely believing that because the product doesn’t even require a prescription, it can’t possibly be harmful. Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a common over-the-counter medication that can relieve a persistent cough. However, unlike most over-the-counter meds, dextromethorphan is […]

Teen Drug Detoxification: The First Step in Recovery Addictive drugs like marijuana, heroin, cocaine, prescription painkillers, and benzodiazepines can cause changes in the wiring of the brain. In time, the brain feels as though it needs those addictive substances in order to survive, and teens who attempt to stop abusing these drugs on their own […]