In every state across the country, it is illegal for kids under the age of 18 to buy cigarettes, just as it is illegal for those under the age of 21 to purchase alcohol. With the updated technology used to create IDs, it is harder and harder for teens to get a hold of one […]
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Risk Factors, Prevention, and How to Address Teen Drug Abuse
Helping a child avoid drug and alcohol abuse can feel like a lifelong process for parents, and certainly it’s something that requires effort on the part of caregivers and parents throughout a child’s life. What should you know? What can you do? How can you help your child avoid or fight substance abuse? Know the […]
Teen Indy Film Documentary on Prescription Drug Abuse
Cyrus Stowe was a senior at Dallas High School when he made his documentary Out of Reach. With the goal of exploring the prescription drug abuse in his hometown, the movie has become an awareness-raising tool to help communities, parents and kids recognize that not only are prescription medications dangerous but also that their use […]
Can Your Son’s Texts Clue You in to Drug Abuse?
A recent study explored teenagers and their use of texting as well as how those texts can help parents identify problematic issues like drug and alcohol abuse. The study, published in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, found that teens who texted their friends about things like drug use or fighting were more likely to […]
Teen Marijuana Abuse: Yes, It’s Still a Big Deal
As more and more states head to the polls to determine whether or not to legalize marijuana for medicinal and/or recreational use, parents are wondering how best to address the topic with their teens—especially if they support legalization. Creating boundaries in a world with increasingly fewer restrictions placed on choices that could be potentially dangerous […]
Why Are Teens Abusing Painkillers?
Why are teens seeking out dangerously addictive painkillers like OxyContin and Percocet and abusing these drugs? Is it purely for recreational use, or is there another motivation? According to a new study out of the University of Michigan and published in The Journal of Pain, it’s not just to get high as many may believe. […]
Report Examines Substance Abuse Among Adolescents
Every year, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration releases an updated report to identify the substance abuse issues that are most common among teens and young adults. Called the CBHSQ Report, different issues pertaining to drug and alcohol use among adolescents are explored, including: First use of drugs and alcohol Whether or not […]
Social Media and Teens’ Photos: Are They Influencing Your Teen’s Choices?
When it comes to your child’s online activity, you already have plenty to worry about. You have to worry about whether or not your underage youngster is talking to someone much older, someone who might not have the best intentions in mind, and you have to hope your child isn’t being cyber-bullied or visiting offensive […]
Spotting Fake IDs? There’s an App for That
Think back to your high school or early college days. Did you ever use a fake ID to buy alcohol underage? Whether you did or didn’t engage in this trend, fake IDs are still used all too often by underage teens attempting to buy alcohol and/ or cigarettes. The good news, though, is that thanks […]
Liquid Meth: Deadly Teen Drug
Drug cartels are always looking for new ways to sneak illegal drugs across the border, and with the increased rate of production of crystal meth in Mexico, they are getting increasingly creative. One of the newest ways has put the “drug mules,” or those who are forced or hired to carry the drugs across the […]
Teen Alcohol Abuse and Random Testing
Teen drinking poses a serious problem across the United States, and one Illinois school has decided to take drastic measures to try to mitigate the issue. St. Viator High School has implemented random alcohol tests among students by collecting hair samples. According to a Newsroom article, St. Viator High School has been randomly drug testing […]
The G-Pen, Marijuana Abuse, and Your Son
A rising trend among teenagers is the use of a portable, discreet vaporizer called the G-Pen to smoke marijuana, and especially in large cities, these devices are relatively easy to find. In New York City, for example, smoke shops line an entire block in the East Village, attracting teens and college students alike. Their specialty […]
OTC Medication Abuse: What Parents Need to Know
Over-the-counter (OTC) medication abuse is on the rise for teenagers and young adults. When used as intended, these medications are safe, but when abused they can be very dangerous. Unfortunately, dextromethorphan is easy to access. It can be found in more than 125 OTC products. Some commonly known medications that contain the substance include Robitussin […]
College and Drinking: What’s Happening in America?
Drinking is considered to be a vital part of the college experience in today’s society, but is that really what college is about? Theodore Caputi doesn’t think so. In a Newsroom article, Caputi discusses the expectations of today’s college students to drink. Caputi makes a compelling point about the almost immediate shift in attitudes concerning […]
NFL’s Stricter Alcohol Standards for Youth Sets Example
According to CBS Sports, the National Football League and the National Football League Players Association have agreed to increase the discipline imposed on players who violate the league’s alcohol policy. The two associations must first agree on a human growth hormone testing policy. The man at the head of the NFL’s security, Adolpho Birch, is […]
Stopping the Spread of Hep C Among Intravenous Drug-Using Teens
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis C virus that has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and globally among young adult intravenous drug users. New outbreaks of the virus have emerged in rural and suburban areas of the United States and may be the cause of an increase of the […]
Toddler Temperament: Can It Predict Teen Alcohol Abuse in Your Son?
There have been many studies connected to child development and correlations to later abuse of alcohol and other substances, but a study published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research focuses on specific childhood characteristics that can indicate higher risk of alcohol abuse as a teen. In this study, researchers tested whether measures of character collected […]
Teen ER Visits Caused by Stimulant Abuse Increase 300 Percent in 7 Years
A large increase in emergency room visits caused by stimulant prescription drug abuse has been noted, according to Newsroom. Top pills responsible for the rise in need for medical care include Adderall and Ritalin, but it’s not necessarily those who are using their prescription correctly who are ending up in the hospital. Rather, those who […]
Are Parents the Driving Force Behind Teen Prescription Drug Abuse?
Do you have prescription medications in your home? If you answered “yes,” do you also have a teen at home? If so, then you need to make every effort to ensure that your prescription medications cannot be accessed by your child. Even if you think that your adolescent would never touch your prescription medication, it’s […]
Cyberbullying & Substance Abuse Connection in Teens
A recent study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health reveals that teen boys who have been cyberbullied run a higher risk of developing substance abuse problems than teens who have not been the victim of online attack. Cyberbullying, a relatively new phenomenon, refers to the practice of harassing and/or abusing someone via social media, […]
My Son Is an Addict: One Parent’s Advice
No parent’s struggle with their son’s addiction is easy to deal with or overcome. In a recent column, one mother shared her experience with the hope of helping other parents dealing with the same issue. Her son, Joshua, was a happy and bright child. It wasn’t until his teen years that a much darker side […]
Candy: Luring Kids to Substance Abuse
Advertising alcohol, cigarettes, and other addictive substances to children has been a long-standing practice—and a successful one at that—but one that the governing agencies have attempted to curb in recent decades. Marketing Techniques First, it was cigarettes that were no longer allowed to cater to children. Any ads with cartoons or talking animal mascots were […]
Are Hispanic Teens at Higher Risk Than Peers for Substance Abuse?
While it has long been known that one’s ethnicity can sometimes be a contributing factor in how likely it is that the person will abuse drugs or alcohol, a recent survey has shed new light on this fact. Namely, it has revealed that Hispanic teens are more likely than African American or Caucasian teens to […]
Risk of Early Drug Abuse Increases Due to Half-Siblings, Says Study
Researchers from Bowling Green State University and Iowa State University recently conducted a study that examined how remarriage that results in children from multiple partners impacts a child’s drug use and sexual behavior. The results of the study were quite startling. Teens who had half-siblings were more likely both to use drugs and to have […]
Teen Risk for Gambling and Alcoholism. New Prediction Study
As a parent, wouldn’t it be great if you knew every issue and struggle that your child would face in life? If you did, you could do everything within your power to prevent those problems from ever occurring, and you would be better armed to confront them if they did occur. While there’s no surefire […]
Young Age for the First Sip of Alcohol Is Common
A new study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health takes a look at the first drinking experiences of children living in a Pennsylvania county, and the results are disturbing. The study reveals that around 37 percent of children in the county admitted to having tasted alcohol by the time they reached the age of […]
Don’t Keep Your Son’s Drug Issues a Secret
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 […]
No Medical Marijuana for Chronic Pain Among Teens, Says Researchers
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 […]
Limiting Youth Access to Legal Marijuana in WA
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, […]
Is Your Son’s Computer His Drug Dealer?
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 […]
Prescription Drug-Abusing Teens More Likely to Abuse Other Drugs
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 […]
Most Common Teen Mental Health Problem: Addiction
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 […]
Animal-Assisted Therapies Prove Beneficial to Teen Rehab Patients
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 […]
Schools Promote Substance-Free Social Events
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 […]
Early Drinking’s Impact on Alcohol Abuse
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 […]
Early Substance Abuse Treatment Intervention Can Save Your Son’s Life
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 […]
Most Parents Don’t Know Their Son Is Abusing Adderall to Study
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 […]
ADHD Medications and Teen Drug Addiction Risk
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 […]
Parents Are Responsible: Liability Laws and Your Son’s Drinking Habits
As a parent, it is tempting to make concessions for bad behavior in your teen, even if you understand that your choice may not be in your child’s best interest. Some parents choose to be more lenient than perhaps they should when it comes to teenage drinking in the home. It’s an issue that is […]
More Research on Teen Marijuana Dependence Needed
Teen marijuana use has continued to rise over the past four decades. With lobbyists continuing to push for the legalization of marijuana, it is easy for many to forget about the myriad of studies that have been conducted by physicians and scientists that illustrate the negative health consequences of a marijuana addiction. More research is […]
CA Social Hosting Laws: How They Affect You and Your Son
“A beer or two is normal in high school.” “I had my first drink when I was 14, and I turned out okay.” “He’s going to drink anyway. At least if I let him drink at home he won’t drink and drive.” Many parents justify teen alcohol use and even embrace it to the point […]
Close Bonds with Parents Decreases Rates of Teen Prescription Drug Abuse
We live in a busy world. Making time for friends and family is becoming increasingly difficult. While many parents feel that their responsibilities are growing and they are finding less time to spend with they kids, the kids are getting older and are more in need of parental attention than ever as they face the […]
Synthetic Drug Abuse Reaches Crisis Point, Says EU
The European Union is experiencing a slowdown in the distribution and use of plant-derived drugs like marijuana and cocaine. While this may seem like good news, according to the EU’s Center for Drugs and Drug addiction, this decline is due to the growing popularity of chemically engineered, synthetic drugs and not a decreased rate of […]
The New Anti-Drinking Ad: Boy Vomits His Girlfriend
Sensationalism and the media have long gone hand in hand. Shocking images, music, and over-the-top aggression in ads are commonplace at this point. Marketers have spent decades inundating the public with shocking images in an attempt to capture attention, deliver a message, and/or sway opinion. The ads against the use and abuse of drugs and […]
Is Your Son Less Likely to Get High if Drug Tested Randomly at School?
In this day and age, it definitely takes a village to help raise a child. With all of the new ways our children have to put themselves in harm’s way—in addition to the old ones—any help we can get in keeping them safe can literally be a lifesaver. This is especially true when it comes […]
EU Says Youth Unemployment May Drive Up Rates of Underage Substance Abuse
Officials in the European Union fear the strides they have made against stopping drug abuse among youth may see a reversal in the coming years due to elevating unemployment rates for young people. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) released a new report with concerns over how the worldwide economic downturn […]
New Liver Toxicity Drug Maybe Helpful for Teen Marijuana Use
Taking too much Tylenol can cause liver toxicity. A medication that has been used in the treatment of this issue may also be effective in the treatment of teenagers who are addicted to marijuana as long as it is used in combination with behavioral therapy, says a speaker at the American Psychiatric Association’s annual convention. […]
ADHD Meds Under the Gun at Many Colleges
The problem of abuse of ADHD medications like Adderall among high school and college students is becoming such a huge issue that a number of colleges are addressing stimulant medication abuse proactively, according to the New York Times. So many students are learning which symptoms they have to fake in order to get a prescription […]
Former Disney Star Lee Thompson Young Commits Suicide
Fans, coworkers, and industry people alike were shocked to hear that 29-year-old Lee Thompson Young apparently ended his life on Tuesday, August 19. Unlike other stars who passed too soon, Young’s death had nothing to do with drugs or alcohol. There is no overdose to report and no reckless lifestyle that resulted in his untimely […]
Synthetic Drugs in the Top 3 Drugs of Choice Among Teens
The Center for Substance Abuse Research at the University of Maryland at College Park recently released a report on the attitudes and practices of teenagers in the United States when it comes to drug and alcohol use. They reported that the top three substances of choice among teens include: Alcohol: About 57 percent of teens […]