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Vaping. E-cigs. JUUL. Vaporizer. E-cigarette. Vape pen. These terms refer to the latest trend among teens and is the topic of day four for National Prevention Week. Many parents are aware of the vaping trend, but aren’t sure exactly what it is, what e-cigarettes look like,...
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...
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...
When the East Texas heat reaches its peak during the summer, playing in the water is a welcome relief. But when alcohol is involved, what should be a fun time can become dangerous. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA), 70 percent of...
If you are a parent or guardian, you’ve probably done your share of worrying about your child drinking alcohol and/or using drugs. You can do your best to limit a child’s exposure to substances, but you can’t guarantee that your child will never have the opportunity...