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One of the most controversial topics lately is marijuana legalization. When considering this, it’s important to understand the effects of marijuana use on the growing teen brain and to understand that even in states where marijuana is legal, it is still illegal for anyone under...
Underage drinking kills more teens than all other illicit drugs combined, about 4,300 annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Prevention Week is this week. Tuesday’s focus is on alcohol. While most people think of car...
Opioid abuse and overdose has become the defining public health crisis of our time. On average, 130 Americans die every day of opioid overdose, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. This week is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Prevention...
Last week, this headline from Vox News caught my eye: “Drug companies shipped nearly 21 million opioid painkillers to a town with 2,900 people.” That takes your breath away, doesn’t it? The town is Williamson, West Virginia. West Virginia has suffered the most overdose deaths per capita than any...
When most care givers think about underage drinking, one of the only concerns is that drunk driving is dangerous. Yes, drunk driving is dangerous in all ages, but there are other concerns with underage drinking. (And only one-third of underage drinking deaths involve auto crashes.) We’ve...
There is no single reason for teenage alcohol and drug use. In “How to Keep Your Teenager Out of Trouble and What to Do if You Can’t,” Dr. Neil I. Bernstein explains some of the core issues and influences behind teenage drug and alcohol use. With...
Many parents wait until their children are in high school to talk about drugs and alcohol and that can be a mistake. Of course it’s better late than never, but the key when it comes to discussing drugs and alcohol is to start early and stick...
Parents need to add increased substance abuse risk to the list of reasons to monitor their child’s time online. American teens ages 12-17 who in a typical day spend any time on social networking sites are at increased risk of underage drinking and drug use, according...
Early detection, intervention and treatment can have a significant impact on the lives of children who experience mental health problems. However, too many children aren’t getting the proper mental health treatment they need. Of all the children they see, primary care physicians identify about 19 percent...
Experiences from the earliest days of childhood are an important part of shaping the brain’s development. Sadly, traumatic episodes leave the deepest impression, manifesting themselves in adulthood in health issues ranging from increases stress to substance abuse. As parents, it’s important to understand how adverse...