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 […]
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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 […]
It’s Red Ribbon Week: Be Drug Free!
by Michael Rass The 2015 Red Ribbon Week kicked off on Friday. The annual drug awareness campaign began in 1985 in response to the brutal murder of DEA Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. He had been working undercover in Mexico where his efforts helped discover a multimillion dollar narcotics manufacturing operation in Chihuahua. Camarena’s identity became […]
The Criticality of a Thoughtful Aftercare Plan
By Brad Waldo, Recovery Counselor When I was 17, I was admitted to an adolescent drug and alcohol treatment in Orange County. After several days, I thoroughly opened up to the help offered to me and dove headfirst into the program. I became “house leader” and was on fire for recovery. On my forty-fifth day […]
The Growing Epidemic of Adolescent Cannabis Dependency
A Physician’s Perspective By David E. Smith, MD, FASAM (Past President American Society of Addiction Medicine & current Chair of Addiction Medicine, Muir Wood Adolescent & Family Services) Marijuana—or cannabis—is by far the most widely used illicit drug in the United States (SAMHSA, 2011). In the past few years, marijuana use by teens has been […]
10 Parenting Tips for Raising Healthy Teen
Here’s some great advice for raising a healthy, happy teen: Be an engaged and hands-on parent to your kids. Discuss your family values and expectations about alcohol and substance use. Empower your children with facts to make good choices. Ensure they know the effects of alcohol and drugs on brain development, the law, and social/physical […]
Emergency Marijuana Rules Put in Place by WA Governor to Protect Kids
For adults over the age of 21 in the state of Washington, marijuana is now legal for recreational use. But it is still absolutely forbidden for anyone under the age of 21 to have or use the drug, and Washington State Governor Jay Inslee is doing his part to ensure that kids are protected as […]
What is the Biggest Risk Factor for Teen Ecstasy Abuse?
Researchers are always looking for identifiers that can predict substance abuse, and a new study published in the journal Substance Use & Misuse found that the single largest risk factor for Ecstasy use among 12th graders is use of other drugs. The study also noted that: About 4.4 percent of 12th graders reported use of […]
Affluence Increases Kids’ Risk of Hookah Use, Says Study
A new study published in the journal Pediatrics found that though teenagers in the United States are avoiding cigarette use in larger and larger numbers, the rates of hookah use for tobacco and other substances has been on the rise. In fact, about one in five seniors in high school report having used a hookah […]
Obama’s Past to Guide Teens on Marijuana. Should You Do It?
President Barack Obama has famously opened up about his use of marijuana while in high school in Hawaii. Now that his term is coming to an end and the opinions of marijuana use are changing publicly and legislatively, he’s taking the opportunity to use his story to reach teenagers. As a cautionary tale and a […]
Teens With Autism at Risk for Alcohol Abuse, Addiction, Says Study
Teenagers who are living with autistic characteristics and/or ADHD may be more likely to abuse alcohol reports a new study at Washington University in St. Louis. For some parents, this may seem counterintuitive. Since most people on the autism spectrum struggle with social interactions and alcohol is primarily a social drug during the teen years, […]
Is Your Son Getting Pro-Marijuana Tweets?
Advertisements may not be able to overtly sell illicit substances to children on TV or in magazines, but a new study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research says that a number of American young people in their teens and early 20s are receiving pro-marijuana messages on Twitter multiple times a day. Previous research […]
More and More Teens Exposed to E-Cigarette Ads, Says Study
The jury is still out in determining whether or not the use of e-cigarettes can be helpful to those who are attempting to quit smoking, but because the devices still contain a hefty amount of nicotine, they are still not safe and can lead to nicotine addiction in those who are not already dependent. Teens […]
Colleges Seek to Provide Support for Teens in Addiction Recovery
The average teen heads off to college with the goal of starting over and building a new life for himself. But a teen with addiction in his past is not average and his start at school may be threatened by a predilection for drug and alcohol abuse. Many colleges understand that teens in recovery are […]
Is Your Son’s Social Life Connected to His Risk for Drug Abuse?
There are so many different ways that your son’s social life can impact his use of drugs and alcohol. Lots of friends, too few friends, the wrong friends, the right friends—your son’s peer group and/or his ability to find one can significantly factor into his choices in relation to substance abuse. In fact, in some […]
Alcohol/Marijuana Combo Use Among Teens More Dangerous Than Drinking Alone
It’s well known that drunk driving is dangerous. So too is drugged driving. But a recent study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs found that when teens mix alcoholic beverages with use of marijuana, the results are often even more deadly than when using just one of these substances. Specifically, the […]
Teen Brain Structure Changed With Occasional Marijuana Use, Says Study
So much for “harmless.” Though for years many have called marijuana use during the teen years nothing more than a normal rite of passage, the scientific evidence to the contrary is adding up. Most recently, according to HealthDay, a new study found that even occasional use of marijuana during the teen years can add up […]
Glow Parties: What Parents Need to Know
They’re marketed as being teen-friendly with no alcohol or drugs and lots of positive over-18 support and supervision, but are so-called glow parties the wholesome and safe activity that they purport to be? Not according to ABC News. They report that these parties that are open to kids who are at least 16 (for a […]
What You Should Expect From Your Son’s Drug Rehab Program
In our last post, we looked at all the questions you should ask when looking for a drug rehab program for your son as he moves away from substance abuse and toward balance and stability. Here are the things that you should be looking for in the answers to those questions and what the rehab […]
Top 10 Questions You Should Ask Your Son’s Drug Rehab
A good rehab is hard to find, especially when the patient is a teenage boy. There are so few programs dedicated only to providing addiction treatment for teenagers, let alone teen boys specifically, and yet it is imperative that a boy struggling with substance abuse get treatment that is tailor-made for his level of development […]
Minimum Drinking Age of 21 Works, Says Study
Every so often, there are stirrings from some groups who hope to lobby for lowering the legal drinking age in the United States. Currently, the legal drinking age is 21 years old, but some believe it should be lowered to age 18, the same age that Americans can vote or enlist in the military. However, […]
5 Tips to Help Your Son Avoid the Pitfalls of Substance Abuse
Helping your son to avoid falling into the trap of drug and alcohol use isn’t something you can do in five minutes. It takes time and effort as well as follow-up attention—and it’s not always easy. Here are a few tips to help you get through to your son that drinking and drugs are not […]
What Should Your Teen Know About Drugs and Alcohol?
It’s a confusing time to be a teenager. Parents and teachers are attempting to educate teens on the dangers of using drugs and alcohol while governments are legalizing marijuana for recreational use, and supposed “legal highs” provided by synthetic substances are easily found online. New drugs, new laws, and new statistics that highlight the growing […]
Teens Define “Designated Driver” Loosely Says Study
When teens refer to their “designated driver,” they may not mean the same thing as adults. To most people, a designated driver is someone who has agreed to remain completely clean and sober throughout the entire evening and provide transportation for everyone in the group until everyone is safe at home. Unfortunately, Bloomberg News reports […]
Teens, Fraternities, Drinking, and Sex: What You Should Know!
Assault, injury, and death caused by alcohol are the norm for many fraternities across the country, and so too are lawsuits pressing charges on behalf of those harmed. It’s not the isolated incident that many fraternities under pressure would have you believe, but it’s something that rarely makes it into the press. Why? Lots of […]
Could Your Son Get “Tricked” Into Using Heroin?
According to Oprah, the answer to that question is a sad and resounding “yes.” Kids across America are being tricked into using heroin and inadvertently developing deadly addictions as a result. It seems unbelievable. How could it happen? Is someone slipping it into an unsuspecting teen’s drink? Are they lacing candy with it? Experimentation Gone […]
Is Your Son Drinking at Your House? You’re Responsible
The summer months are the most common time for teenagers to drink alcohol, but if it’s happening at your house, then you are liable for what happens afterward—even if it’s not your child who was drinking, you didn’t supply the alcohol, and/or you didn’t even know it was happening. Law enforcement is cracking down on […]
Marijuana Legalization = Increased Teen Pot Use, Says Study
Proponents of legalization often assure those who are concerned about how the legalization of marijuana will impact teens that there will be limitations put into place to protect teens from accessing marijuana when it is legalized. Many push for restrictions on marketing marijuana to kids as well. However, despite the best efforts of law enforcement […]
Are Indoor Tanning and Teen Substance Abuse Linked?
Like the energy drinks described in a recent post, it appears that there may be a connection between teen use of indoor tanning and substance abuse, according to the latest research. A study recently published in the journal of JAMA Dermatology found that teens who often frequented indoor tanning establishments were more likely to indulge […]
Recommended Interventions Are Having an Impact on Underage Drinking
For years, the surgeon general has been advising parents to do a number of different things to help their teens when underage alcohol abuse becomes an issue. Researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) are backing up these recommendations with the results of a study that they recently published in the […]
Drugged Driving: The Disconnect Between Theory and Behavior Among Teens
Decades of drug education and addiction awareness efforts in the schools have gone a long way toward helping kids to sidestep drug and alcohol abuse and its risks. However, the focus – especially when it comes to driving – has long been on alcohol. Drunk driving is a deadly problem among teens, but unfortunately, many […]
Who’s Buying Alcohol for Your Son?
Though it may seem like a joke, a movie ploy or an outdated practice, random strangers purchasing alcohol for teenagers is not a rare event. In fact, undercover cops regularly bust adults who give into the pleas of teens who beg strangers to buy beer for them. In doing this, the hope is that the […]
Energy Drinks and Substance Abuse: Is There a Connection Among Teens?
Energy drinks may not be as innocuous as they seem, according to a new study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine. Though drinks like Red Bull are legally purchased by all ages and readily available, the study found that teenagers who regularly drink these highly caffeinated beverages are more likely to smoke cigarettes, drink […]
How to Plant the Seeds of Hope in Teens
By Ben Spencer, Teacher and Academic Director (Google+) At the end of last week, I had a chance to sit down with Jason Lechner, Muir Wood’s Program Director of the Intensive Outpatient Program. Jason also acts as the Primary Therapist for the Residential Program. During our conversation, I filled Jason in on the academic program […]
Unlikely Heroin Addicts: Teen Deaths Are Shocking the Nation
Unshaven. Skinny. Desperate. Wild-eyed. Usually depicted as homeless, a criminal, in jail or on his way to being arrested, the stereotypical junkie has always been defined by popular media as an urban outcast, a down-on-his-luck middle-aged white male. For years, this mythical villain was one of the many reasons that parents fled the cities and […]
Teen Substance Use: Cigarettes vs Alcohol vs Marijuana
Tracking drug and alcohol use among teens is the purpose of a number of different surveys and research studies each year. This year, the Center for Substance Abuse Research at the University of Maryland at College Park released a study that looked at the changes in drug and alcohol use among teens from the 1970s […]
Questions to Ask Your Teen About Alcohol and Drug Use
Talking to your teen about substance abuse doesn’t just mean lecturing him on the risks of getting high or driving while intoxicated. Though it is important to share this kind of information with your children from a relatively early age, monologues will do little to sway your son’s choices in behavior. Instead of talking at […]
Underage Drinking at All-Time High During Summer Months
Summer is coming, and with it comes a ton of risks for teens. One of the most significant risks is underage drinking, an issue that is always a problem but one that increases exponentially during the summer months. In fact, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s NSDUH Report found that first-time use of […]
Drug Testing Is Out, and Clear Boundaries and Respect Are In
Over the past couple years, there has been much debate about mandatory drug testing among adolescents and teens in public schools. Some have attempted to require that all would-be athletes be tested for drugs prior to trying out for different teams while others have implemented random drug testing for all students. Many parents have rebelled, […]
Impulse Control, Dangerous Choices, and Your Son
Why is it that your son is excited by dangerous situations while you – and even him, when he was younger – shied away from anything fear-inducing? According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, it may be a biological issue. A recent study supports the idea that teens react more impulsively when […]
What to Do if You Notice Changes in Your Son
Changes are normal for kids of all ages, and during the teen years, the changes experienced by your son can be abrupt and disconcerting. Unfortunately, these changes can be as overwhelming and difficult to understand for your son as they are for you, and your child may not know how to handle the waves of […]
One in Ten Teens Reports Abusing Prescription Painkillers
The US Department of Health and Human Services reports that about one in ten teenagers say that they’ve abused a sedative or a prescription painkiller (e.g., OxyContin, Percocet, Lorcet) without a prescription and for non-medical use. These data are based on information culled through a survey of 2,100+ young people under the age of 20 […]
Adolescents Need Adolescent Addiction Treatment, Not Adult
By Lisa Frederiksen, Group Facilitator (Google+) Until the turn of the 21st century, there was little understanding of the inner workings of the teen brain—I mean the inner workings, the science that shows how the brain develops and what influences that development (childhood trauma, mental illness, social environment, genetics, and puberty), let alone the profound […]
Follow Your Bliss
By Ben Spencer, Teacher and Academic Director “Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.” –Joseph Campbell About a year into my own recovery—some six and a half years ago—Peter, a friend I’d met earlier on in college, approached me. We talked about how much things had changed over […]
Does Legalized Marijuana Put the Drug in the Hands of Teens?
It’s a concern that weighs heavily on the minds of parents and legislators across the country as more and more states move to legalize marijuana for more than just medicinal use: Will the drug more often fall into the hands of teens and, as a result, create higher rates of teen drug abuse? According to […]
Identifying the Signs of Your Son’s Drug Abuse
Parents will see a number of changes in their teenage children when they hit puberty and as they grow and develop after the age of 12. Personality, mood, appearance, interests, friends—all these and more will be the subjects of those changes. However, because so many new things occur during this time, it can be hard […]
Binge Drinking in College: Getting the Problem Under Control
The amount and frequency that college kids drink in the United States is at an all-time high, according to the New York Post, and they blame the problem on a lack of academic requirements for higher education. According to the article, back in 1961 the average college student who attended classes full-time spent about 25 […]