“Marijuana is not addictive.” It’s a statement repeated by drug dealers, blog writers, dedicated smokers and neophyte users. While it would be wonderful if this statement were true, science suggests that the statement is false. The 740,800 users who entered treatment programs for marijuana in 2009, according to the Treatment Episode Data Set, might concur. […]
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Does Your Teen Need Marijuana Addiction Treatment?
No parent wants to believe that their child is in need of marijuana addiction treatment. Initially, many parents prefer to see marijuana abuse as a one-time thing and – if it continues – a passing phase. But the fact is that if marijuana abuse has turned into marijuana addiction then early intervention and treatment can […]
Dangers of Teens Driving High on Marijuana
How much is too much when it comes to marijuana use and driving? States that have legalized the drug for recreational purposes are still working to come up with a fair and accurate answer to that question that applies to all users across the board – those who smoke the drug regularly and thus have […]
An Extensive List of Marijuana Paraphernalia
Marijuana can be ingested by smoking or by eating it. When it is eaten, the buds of the plant are cooked in a fatty substance like butter to release the THC and then used in the making of a dish – often a baked item, like brownies or cookies. In these cases, there is very […]
Recognize the Signs of Inhalant Abuse
Knowing the signs of inhalant abuse can help identity the need for treatment. According to the Consumer Protection Safety Commission of the United States, inhalant abuse can kill. Not only can it kill, but it can kill instantly and suddenly, even if it is your son’s first time engaging in the abuse. It can kill […]
Paraphernalia of Inhalant Abuse & Treatment for Teens
How Many Teens Use Inhalants According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 2.4 million people aged 12 or older reported using inhalants in the past 12 months. An estimated 4.8% of eighth graders, 2% of tenth graders, and almost 2% of twelfth graders reported using inhalants in 2021. Sadly, these numbers are escalating every […]
Health Concerns of Inhalant Abuse
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that more than 2 million adolescents over the age of 12 in the United States abused inhalant substances in 2009. Most popular among teens and adolescents who do not have regular access to alcohol and other drugs of abuse, the drugs in this class are identified […]
Aerosol Inhalant Abuse & Addiction
When teenagers begin to experiment with heroin, meth or cocaine. Young teens are much more likely to start with inexpensive, legal substances that are found around the house. The vapors of everyday aerosol products like spray paint, hairspray, deodorants and air fresheners can be inhaled, or “huffed,” by kids for a mind-altering high. The poisonous […]
When Drug Abuse Becomes Addiction
Adolescence is known as a time of risk-taking and experimentation, and many of these youthful experimentations involve drugs. A lot of teens will try drugs once or twice without ever getting hooked. Some will go on to abuse drugs for a limited period of time, while others will become chemically dependent or addicted. How can […]
What Substance Abuse Does to the Developing Brain of a Teen
The human brain was once considered a bit of a mystery. It’s trapped beneath the bony surface of the skull, impenetrable to direct examination, and most people aren’t able to articulate how their brain cells feel. When the brain was damaged, it was hard to measure how much the cells may have changed, and it […]
The Most Common Drugs Teen Boys Become Addicted To
Protecting a child means scanning the environment, looking for dangers and removing them when possible. That’s why parents of toddlers cover electrical outlets, place bumpers around sharp furniture and gate off stairwell entrances. These steps can keep children away from the dangers contained in the home, but as these youngsters grow, they might be exposed […]
The Link Between STDs & Teen Drug Use: What Parents Should Know
Addiction isn’t the only dangerous side effect of teen drug use. Study after study shows that teenagers who abuse drugs and alcohol have a higher risk of acquiring an STD, or a sexually transmitted disease. For instance, the results of a survey published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research showed a higher-than-average rate of alcohol […]
Signs and Symptoms of Substance Abuse
In a busy, high-stress world, parents can’t always be alert to the warning signs of substance abuse. It’s practically impossible to monitor a teenager’s behavior 24 hours a day, and socially active teens may spend much of their time away from home. By educating yourself on the signs and symptoms of drug or alcohol use, […]
Popular Drug Combinations Among Teenagers
Being a teenager can be a confusing and testing time for young men. Many a budding future has come crashing down because of bad choices and poor judgment. While the problems used to be girls, cartoons, or video games, teenage boys today face graver and far more serious threats. The danger goes even beyond simple drug […]
Legal Drugs Teens Abuse to Get High
Did you know that your child doesn’t have to hang out in dark alleys or associate with the “wrong crowd” to abuse drugs? According to the Monitoring the Future survey, the most recent information suggests that more than 20 percent of high school seniors admit to abusing prescription drugs over the course of their lifetimes, […]
How to Identify Drugs
From time to time, every parent on the planet is asked to play the role of detective. Teens can be secretive, and they’re adept at hiding information they know might land them in hot water with the family. Breaking through this wall of deception can be difficult, and sometimes, it means looking for clues that […]
Health Risks of Substance Abuse
Talking with your teenage boy about the health risks of substance abuse may feel like a losing battle. The average teenager is healthy, strong, and ready to face any danger, including the risks of accidental injury, chronic disease or premature death. Although it might be hard to convince your son to take the health risks […]
Drug Street Slang Your Teenager May Use
Every generation of parents feels that their teens are speaking a foreign language. While it’s not always necessary to understand the cryptic terms that your teenagers use in their texts, phone calls or emails, you should be aware of some common street slang for drugs or alcohol. Understanding this aspect of your son’s communications may […]
Dangers of a Drug Overdose
Presumably, people who take in drugs do so because they like the effects the drugs can bring about. They might enjoy the calming, soothing effects of alcohol, for example, or they might enjoy the energy boost that a snort of cocaine can deliver. Some people even take drugs because they dislike the way they feel […]
Who Is at Risk for Drug Addiction?
No teenager is immune to the risk of drug addiction. Substance abuse affects young people from all demographic groups, regardless of their socioeconomic status, gender or ethnicity. However, there are a number of important factors that make certain teenagers more vulnerable to drug abuse than others. Understanding these risk factors can help you identify the […]
Teen Drug Addiction Statistics
Studying the statistics on teen drug addiction can be overwhelming for parents. The scope of Monitoring the Future Survey, a nationwide research project that tracks substance abuse among teens, reports that binge drinking has declined considerably among teens since 1980. In that year, 41 percent of high school seniors reported binge drinking; by 2010, that […]
FAQ on Teen Drug Addiction
Whether or not you suspect that your teenager has a drug problem, you probably have questions about how the disease of addiction affects teens. Adolescence is an extremely vulnerable time in a young person’s life. Inexperienced teens can become chemically dependent or addicted to drugs or alcohol before they even realize that they’re in danger. […]
Signs of Spice Abuse
Keeping up with the latest trends in drug abuse among teens can be challenging for parents. One of the newest drugs available to teenagers is “spice,” the street name for a synthetic plant-based product that produces psychoactive effects in users. Spice consists of a blend of dried herbs treated with a mixture of chemicals, including […]
Who Needs Treatment for Ecstasy Abuse?
Ecstasy, otherwise known as 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine or MDMA, is a synthetic substance sold in pill form that was made popular in the early 1990s at all-night dance parties called “raves.” Providing a stimulant, “feel good” effect on its users, Ecstasy is often referred to as the “love” drug because many users describing feeling a sense of […]
Risks of Ecstasy Overdose
Often called the “happy pill” or the “love drug,” Ecstasy effects can be far from warm and fuzzy. The drug is a synthetic substance created on the black market and sold in different formulations, each one containing different amounts of its active ingredient, 3,4-methylenedioxymeth-amphetamine or MDMA, and other substances, which means that no two pills […]
Ecstasy Effect on Decision Making & Impulsivity in Teens
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. […]
Related to Cocaine Use
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 […]
The Not-So-Typical Ways Teens Get Drunk
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 […]
The Harmful Effects of Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages
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
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 […]
Teen Drinking Statistics
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 […]
Teen Drinking Games
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 […]
How Alcohol Affects a Teen’s Developing Brain
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
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 […]
Understanding Dextromethorphan Abuse in Teens
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 […]
Drug and Substance Abuse
Teen Substance Abuse: The Difference Between Abuse and Addiction, and How To Treat Both “My child has a substance abuse problem.” It’s a sentence no parent would want to utter, yet drug abuse and alcohol abuse seem to be prevalent throughout the country. For example, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia […]
Drug and Alcohol Rehab
View Post Teen Drug Rehab: Finding The Right Fit The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that 90 percent of people who had addictions began their substance abuse prior to age 18. Learn to combat this reality with the right treatment for your teen. The teen years are a time […]
Detoxification
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 […]
A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Rohypnol Abuse
What is Rohypnol Abuse? A secret Rohypnol abuse issue could be devastating to a teen, and the problem could go on for years before parents are even aware that a problem is in place. Studies, such as one published in the journal Addictive Behaviors, suggest that teens living in urban areas have higher rates of […]
A Parent’s Guide for Understanding Teen Opioid Abuse
Teen Heroin Abuse: How Parents Can Handle The Epidemic Parents might feel as though heroin abuse would never take place between the walls of their home, as their children are provided with so many opportunities and so much pampering that they’d never be driven to use this powerful drug. As a result, many parents remain […]
Teens and LSD Abuse: Signs, Risks, and Treatment Options
LSD Abuse in Teens It’s possible that teens are finding LSD less dangerous because they also find it fun. But abuse can have long lasting consequences. Lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly known as LSD or plain “acid,” is a drug that seems custom-made for teenagers. The drug is placed on tiny sheets of paper printed with […]
Understanding the Dangers of Inhalant Abuse
Inhalant Abuse: The Legal High With Permanent Consequences While many drugs of abuse could cause death if they’re used repeatedly at very high doses, inhalants are one of the only classes of drug that could kill on the very first attempt, even if the dose seems low. Solvents, paint and fuels are designed to make […]
Teen Alcohol Abuse: Signs, Symptoms, and Impact
Teenage Alcohol Abuse: Where it Begins and How to Treat it In the United States, it’s illegal for those younger than 21 to buy or purchase alcohol. That law has been in place for decades, and it’s designed to keep young people away from very dangerous substances that could harm them. Even so, young adults […]
Designer Drug Abuse
Teen Designer Drug Abuse: The Drugs Teens Are Abusing That You’ve Never Heard of The makers of designer drugs study the chemical formulations of known addictive substances and they tweak the formulas just a little bit, ensuring that the products they’re developing are just as effective as the banned substance, but just different enough that […]
Recognizing Cocaine Abuse in Teens & How to Find Help
Teen Cocaine Abuse: How Cocaine Effects Your Teen and How To Find Help Cocaine is a controlled substance that’s been considered illegal for recreational use for decades. Even so, it’s a drug that’s remarkably easy for most users to find. Cocaine is a versatile drug that can be snorted, ingested, injected and even smoked. It’s […]
Teen Marijuana Abuse: Symptoms & Impact
Teen Marijuana Abuse: The Effects of Marijuana Abuse and How To Talk To Your Teen About Them Marijuana isn’t the most expensive drug on the market, which makes it attractive for teens who don’t have large amounts to spend, but research suggests that marijuana is so common among teens that most users don’t pay anything […]
Is Medication-Assisted Treatment a Safe Bet for Opiate-Addicted Teens?
For adults who are dependent upon opioid drugs like heroin and painkillers, medication that “replaces” the drug of choice and minimizes withdrawal symptoms is often used. Methadone and buprenorphine are the most commonly prescribed medications for this purpose, but in teens, most doctors are reluctant to use these drugs. The conversation on whether or not […]
The Butterfly Effect in Recovery
By Andrew Finley, LMFT Newton’s Third Law of Physics states, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Scientifically, this is true, but in the recovery profession we deal with far more than the physical plane. In our world, we have seen the possibility of our actions causing immense, even global reactions that […]
Parentification Trauma: Working with Families and the Child
By Jennifer Golick, PhD, LMFT, Clinical Director, Muir Wood What is a Parentified Child? A parentified child is a term used to describe a child who takes on the responsibility of caring for their parent or family. This can happen when a parent is absent, unavailable, or unable to care for themselves or their family. […]
Pauper in his Palace: Can Integrated Treatment Make a Prince?
David E. Smith, MD, FASAM, FAACT; Michael Wachter, MD; and Jennifer Golick, MFT The challenge of integrating treatment is not new to the medical world. Any patient struggling with a chronic illness is frequently seen by a team of treatment professionals who attempt to collaboratively address the unique needs of the patient. Addiction treatment in […]