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 […]
Commonly Abused Substances
Teen substance abuse is a major problem in the United States and all over the world. As a parent, educating yourself about the disease of addiction and how to treat it can make the difference in helping your teen through a difficult time, and into a successful and rewarding way of living.
“Across the United States substance abuse in all its forms is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. In Northern California, there is a major lack of high-quality adolescent treatment programs. Scott Sowle has been responsible for the development of nationally recognized treatment programs for adolescents and their families. Muir Wood is an exceptional program that addresses the key elements in effectively treating adolescents with substance abuse and co-occurring issues.” – David Smith, MD, FASAM, FAACT
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Is Harm Reduction an Appropriate Choice in Managing Teen Drug Abuse?
The result of lax parenting when it comes to drug and alcohol abuse in teens is obvious and obviously harmful to the child. But overprotective parenting can be damaging as well, and some experts are pointing to harm reduction as an option for some drug abusing teens – at least, initially. Will harm reduction efforts […]
Teens Abusing Painkillers and Stimulant Medications in Higher Numbers
The Partnership at Drugfree.org released the results of the Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) that revealed that prescription painkiller abuse is a huge problem among teens. In fact, 25 percent of teens say they have misused or abused a prescription drug in their lifetime. That marks a whopping 35-percent increase in the past five years. […]
College Binge Drinking and Heart Disease: The Connection
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that just four years of heavy alcoholic drinking during the college years may be all it takes to increase an individual’s risk for the development of chronic and fatal health problems that include: Heart attacks Strokes Atherosclerosis So how do you […]
Drug Testing in Junior High: Too Soon?
The drug testing of junior high students before they are allowed to play organized school sports is a new phenomenon in some parts of the country. Some parents welcome it while others are furious at what they perceive to be an intrusion upon their child’s civil rights. Who’s right? The Argument for Drug Testing in […]
Stimulant Drug Abuse and the Great Grade Chase
For preteens and teens diagnosed with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it’s common to get a doctor’s prescription for a stimulant medication like Vyvanse or Adderall. Increasingly common among teens who are not diagnosed with ADHD is a request for these and other stimulant medications for the purposes of neuroenhancement, according to American Medical […]
Prescription Drug Intervention Helps Your Teen’s Drug Abuse
When junior high school students who lived in rural areas and small towns received a brief intervention on the topic of prescription drug abuse, a recent study found that they were less likely to engage in abuse of prescription medications, according to the National Institutes of Health. For parents, this means it’s worth it to […]
Will Marijuana Use Harm Your Son’s Ability to Function at College?
No matter how the laws change in terms of legalizing marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes, it is always harmful to the development of teenager’s brain. No amount of experimentation with marijuana is harmless at this age, and if your son is using the drug for any purpose, don’t hesitate to put a stop to […]
Lingo Tip: Sizzurp
Seizures were ostensibly the cause of the hospital admission and emergency medical treatment of Lil Wayne, a popular rap artist, a few months ago. TMZ reported that these seizures were drug related and may have been connected to a high amount of codeine in his system. He’s not taking the pills, however. If the lyrics of […]
Parents Use Drug Dogs to Sniff Out Marijuana at Home
Are drug-sniffing dogs an appropriate response to ferreting out drug use and abuse at home or is it overkill? Some parents have decided that no measure is too large when it comes to finding out whether or not their kids are hiding drugs at home. Some are exceedingly creative: hiding drugs in air-conditioning vents, pulling […]
What Is Your Son Drinking?
It’s not just the rate of teen alcohol use but which alcoholic beverages and brands were most often used by teens that was the topic of a recent study published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. Researchers determined that: Half of underage drinkers drink one or more of the top 25 brands chosen […]
Talking to Your Son Prior to College May Limit Drinking
Your opinion matters. Even when your son is busily packing for college, daydreaming about a new life beyond the confines of home and parental boundaries, your input on what he may or may not—or should or should not—experience in terms of alcohol use when he first leaves home has a significant impact on the choices […]
Adolescent Dating Linked to Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Romance can be just as inciting to drug use and abuse among preteens and young teens as it is for adults, according to a new study published in the Journal of Research on Adolescence. The study found that kids in middle school who dated and had relationships were twice as likely to use alcohol, marijuana, […]
Will College Increase Substance Abuse Risks?
Many parents are concerned about the risks they feel are inherent to sending their child to college. Will the liberal environment and lack of supervision encourage drug or alcohol abuse? Binge drinking is a clear problem among college-aged children, but is sending your son off to school a guarantee that he will indulge in this […]
Teen Prescription Drug Misuse Rates. New Study Out Now!
A new study sought to determine how much of a problem intentional prescription drug abuse is among the teenage population in the United States. Utilizing data culled from poison control centers associated with the Researched Abuse Diversion and Addiction-Related Surveillance (RADARS®) System, the study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & […]
NIDA Addresses Increase in Teen Marijuana Use
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is addressing the 2012 Monitoring the Future study that found a significant increase in the use and abuse of marijuana among teens of all ages. For their part, the NIDA recognizes that teen marijuana abuse is a concern and is calling for more research to determine why the […]
TV Alcohol Ads May Increase Alcohol Abuse in Adolescents
When it was determined that cigarette ads were aimed at persuading teens to smoke, the industry was forced to make significant changes in the interest of protecting young Americans from developing a deadly addiction to tobacco. Now, studies are showing that alcohol ads are not only aimed at teenagers and young adults but that they […]
25% of Seniors Report Recent Marijuana Use
It may be due to the increasingly positive public opinion about marijuana, the new laws that legalize the drug for medical use and even recreational use in some states, or it may be an increase of access to the drug caused by these same issues. But more and more teens are using marijuana. In addition, […]
ADHD Prescription Drug Abuse Doubles ER Visits
ADHD Medication Abuse: More and more children in the United States are receiving an ADHD diagnosis, and many take ADHD medications well into their teens. Unfortunately, as their bodies change, so does their body chemistry, and medications often stop working the way they once did. Though ADHD meds once worked to help them calm down […]
Are Teens Getting the Wrong Message From Legalized Marijuana?
Many are concerned that the decriminalization of marijuana in Washington State and the legalization of marijuana for recreational use in Colorado is sending the wrong message to teens about the nature of marijuana and the use of other illicit drugs. And it’s not just parents who are concerned. R. Gil Kerlikowske is the director of […]