The legalization of recreational marijuana use in California has set off an advertising boom on billboards across the state. They promise “Cannabis, the California Way!” and try to suggest that marijuana can help Californians say goodbye to stress or “get rid of pesky hangovers.” Another billboard promises “unrivaled potency” while asking users to “medicate responsibly.” […]
Commonly Abused Substances
Teen Rehab and Marijuana Use
Teen Rehab for Marijuana Use Disorder This article presents some of the factors associated with teen marijuana use that appear to be driving more and more adolescents into teen treatment of one kind or another. The number of Americans supporting the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana (cannabis) products has been steadily increasing over […]
Benefits of Extended Care (90 Days)
Recovery from addiction is a gradual process, even for the most active, energetic teens. In the past, 30-day treatment programs were the gold standard for rehab, but more recent clinical research has shown that 90-day extended care programs are more effective. Teens who stay in rehab for longer periods have time to acquire coping skills, […]
When Regular Use Leads to Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription drug abuse can start for teens when they or another family member are written a legitimate prescription by their family doctor. Without proper supervision or secure storage of medications, teens may be tempted to experiment with the use of these prescription pills and inadvertently develop an addiction or, worse, overdose. The results can be […]
Long-Term Health Risks of Prescription Drug Abuse
There are a number of different kinds of prescription drugs that are highly addictive and have the potential for abuse. These include opiate painkillers (e.g., OxyContin, hydrocodone), central nervous system depressants (long-term users of prescription drugs will risk health problems that include: Organ damage and failure, especially to the kidneys and liver Tolerance to the […]
Identifying Prescription Pills
“It’s not mine, Mom.” “I don’t know what it is, Dad. I’ve never seen it before.” These are likely the answers you’ll get if you find miscellaneous and unidentified pills in your son’s belongings. It can leave you in a nerve-wracking predicament. How do you figure out what type of pills your son is using? […]
Alternatives to Habit-Forming Prescription Drugs
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, alternative medicine is an approach to one’s physical care that is used to replace the Western, pharmaceutical medicines that many American turn to as a first choice for their care. If an individual has […]
Warning Signs Your Teen Is Abusing Heroin
Heroin abuse infects every layer of your son’s life so the signs that indicate your teen is abusing heroin can include a wide range of telltale issues. From health concerns to changes in social choices and problems at home and at school, the signs of addiction are a parent’s first indication that their child needs […]
The Use of Medications in Heroin Treatment
Heroin abuse and heroin addiction are spreading rapidly amongst teens. Due to a rise in prescription drug experimentation, many teens develop an unexpected physical dependence upon opiates and are unable to keep up with the cost of buying pills on the black market. As a result, they turn to the cheaper and more accessible alternative […]
How Heroin Affects an Adolescent’s Developing Brain
According to an article published by CNN, the adolescent brain is in a developing state that won’t be complete until your son reaches the age of 25 or thereabouts. The frontal lobe, specifically, is not yet formed. Unfortunately, this is the part of the brain that is responsible for his ability to make informed, rational […]