Articles containing: addiction

Alcohol and Drugs. Why Do Teens Use?

Many of us know that the teen years can be a time for experimenting with alcohol and other drugs. But a recent CDC study found the reason why teens use substances today isn’t just for experimentation, but also to stop worrying about problems, and even to help with depression or anxiety. This is really concerning.

Marijuana: Facts, Myths, and Ben’s Story

Many parents and teens wonder about the safety of using marijuana. While much is known about this substance, there is still considerable controversy about its potential harm to teenagers.

Learn more about cannabis and the teen brain. Tune in above, or find us wherever you stream.

Let’s take a look at Ben’s story.

Alcohol and Adolescents, featuring John F. Kelly, PhD, ABPP – Shrinking It Down

Did you know that 3 out of 4 addiction cases in the U.S. are alcohol addictions, and kids who start drinking before age 15 are significantly more likely to develop an alcohol use disorder than those who wait? Alcohol causes more deaths each year than all other drugs combined, including around 5,000 deaths to children under age 21.

9 Ways to Know If Your Child’s Mental Health Clinician Is Right for Them

As parents, we all want the very best for our kids – the best teachers, coaches, and health professionals, among others.

About one in five of our children, teenagers, and young adults will experience a mental health issue and ideally receive mental health care.

Gaming Disorder – Shrinking It Down

You can also subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, and most podcast apps.

Teen and Parent Misconceptions about Driving and Marijuana

Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.

AdCouncil (1983)

We all remember this slogan.

It was coined at the launch of the Drunk Driving Campaign.

Since then, awareness of the serious risks of driving under the influence of alcohol are well known. And there have been significant changes in driving behavior.

Could Your Honor Student Be A Heroin Addict?

This video offers two compelling chapters: first, a fictional sequence of a day in the life of a clean-cut teen addict, and second, a frank dialog with Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh and a young man in recovery.

For Those Suffering From Addiction, Recovery Is The Most Likely Outcome—But How Do We Get There From Here?

Intro music written and performed by Dr. Gene Beresin.
Outro music arranged and performed by Dr. Gene Beresin.

NOTE: In light of the landmark substance abuse and recovery legislation that was passed today by the Massachusetts Legislature, this blog and podcast couldn’t be any more pertinent.

Journeys On Our Own

This blog post is part of a series entitled Real Lives, Real Stories: Personal Experiences With Mental Illness.

Myths About the 12-Step Program: What Science Tells Us About Effective Treatment of Addiction

The 12-Step Program. Does it work? In recent years, there have been some questions raised about the effectiveness of 12-step mutual-help programs (such as Alcoholics Anonymous) and 12-step professional treatment plans, claiming that these approaches are almost completely ineffective and even harmful in treating substance use disorders.