Only families who have been struck by addiction can understand the many and varied struggles that are faced every day. When it occurs, one of those struggles is internal—shame due to a child’s addiction—but it can have a deep impact on the family’s ability to effectively help their loved one heal from the disorder. Some […]

While two states have legalized marijuana for recreational use, approximately 20 states have legalized the drug for medicinal purposes. Lawmakers are scrambling to address the issues raised by lobbyists on both sides, and one of the biggest issues is the effect that legalization of the substance will have on teens. One of the big issues […]

As lobbyists continue to push for the legalization of marijuana for both medical and recreational purposes, the states that have already passed laws allowing for recreational use are facing the difficulties that come with regulating a brand-new industry—and one that focuses on the sale of an addictive substance. In the states of Colorado and Washington, […]

A watchdog group named Digital Citizens Alliance launched an investigation into how difficult it would be for a teenager to purchase prescription medications online. The results of the investigation were shocking enough to propel the study into the media spotlight and gain the attention of parents nationwide. A teenage boy called several online “pharmacies” to […]

The medications in your cabinet may be much more of a temptation to your teen than the drugs that are sold on the street corner or in the schoolyard. Prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications are often both used to achieve a “buzz” of some kind by teenagers. Why? They’re cheap or free, and they’re easy […]

The addiction epidemic in the United States is not just a headline-grabbing phenomenon. It’s a very real, widespread medical problem. The average American teen is more likely to deal with drug use and subsequent addiction than to be diagnosed with any other mental health problem, according to a new study. Experts estimate that more than […]

Most adults who begin the therapeutic process do so by sitting across from a therapist and launching into a candid conversation about their opinion on what is causing them difficulties in their lives. For teens, this isn’t always an effective method. Why? Some teens are angry about being in therapy or otherwise feel uninterested in […]

With autumn comes back-to-school dances for high schools and all the temptations that can coincide with teen social events—whether or not they are school-sponsored. What does this mean for your teen? In many cases, it can mean exposure to drugs and alcohol and one of their first opportunities to drink or get high in a […]

Though many parents seem to believe that allowing their children to “experiment” with drugs and alcohol is not only safe but also normal, the research is steadily piling up that proves that thought wrong. Why? Here are just a few facts: It just takes one time. One night of unprotected sex can create a lifelong […]

Dr. John Sharp, a respected psychiatrist, author, and faculty member at Harvard Medical School and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, explains early substance abuse as the combination of two evils: (1) a genetic tendency to be prone to addiction, and (2) an altering of the chemical balance that is still forming within […]

A national poll conducted by the C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Michigan illustrates that most American parents don’t know when their kids are using “study drugs” to enhance their academic performance. The researchers found that only 1 in 100 parents believed that their child had experimented with “study drugs” (typically ADHD medications that are […]

Many scientists once believed in a direct correlation between the intake of ADHD medications as a child and the use of illicit drugs later in life. With the continual rise in the number of American children who are diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed medications as a result, a new report that says that the aforementioned […]