Do I have a Marijuana Addiction?

Cannabis or marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States and is widely used among teenagers and adolescents. Although there may be medicinal benefits for individuals with severe chronic disease, studies have shown that marijuana addiction is possible. Cannabis is composed of two main ingredients: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, more commonly known as THC, […]…

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

A mental health disorder or a substance abuse disorder usually does not exist in an isolated vacuum. This means that it is quite common for these disorders to co-exist, a term known as dual diagnosis. It is often difficult to differentiate which disorder initiated first and if there was a direct cause and effect however […]…

What are Co-Occurring Disorders?

Updated 4/16/25 Substance abuse and addiction can mask a mental illness and vice versa. Many patients admit to an addiction treatment program only to find out that they are also struggling with a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety. This depression or anxiety could have developed to cope with the addiction, or the […]…

Working in the Food Industry with an Addiction

Whether it is chopping fresh vegetables, picking out raw meat, preparing a delicate chocolate dessert or serving a patron a delicious meal or a delicious drink, working in the food industry requires constant exposure to food and can potentially lead you to have an obsession with food and the development of unhealthy coping mechanisms. Immersing […]…

Street Names for Commonly Abused Drugs

Drug abuse has plagued the American continent since the 1800s when morphine, heroin, and cocaine were hailed for their amazing curative properties. In the 1960s many new and exotic drugs, such as hallucinogens, benzodiazepines, amphetamines, and marijuana, became readily available and the street drug trend became a booming industry. The world of addiction is changing […]…

Impact of Alcohol Abuse in the Workplace

Substance abuse and alcohol abuse affects every facet of an individual’s life. From their personal relationships and family to the workplace, addiction does not discriminate between one are of life versus another. One of the most immediate areas in which the impact of excessive drug and alcohol abuse is in the workplace. On the job, […]…

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW) is held in March each year and is a national health awareness week that offers teenagers and young adults clinically researched facts about drugs, alcohol, and addiction. This is also a national health observance to “Shatter The Myths” about drugs. The following are facts about alcohol and drug […]…

National Drug and Alcohol Week

National Drug and Alcohol Week is an awareness week that was started by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in 2010 to raise awareness for teenagers about the myths and dangers of alcohol and drugs. This campaign focuses on using science to educate young minds how drugs and alcohol affect both the mind and […]…

Teenage Addiction and Self-Harm: Co-occurring Disorders

Nonsuicidal self-injury disorder, better known as self-harm, is characterized by the purposeful actions of causing physical harm to oneself without the intention of committing suicide. Cutting and burning are the two most common types of self-injury behavior.  This behavior is more common in teenagers and adolescents and occurs due to severe underlying emotional pain and […]…

When Typical Teen Behavior Becomes Troubled Teen Behavior

Updated 5/5/25 As teenagers begin to assert their independence and find their own identity, many experience behavioral changes that can seem bizarre and unpredictable to parents. Your sweet, obedient child who once couldn’t bear to be separated from you now won’t be seen within 20 yards of you, and greets everything you say with a […]…