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 […]…
How to Treat my Child’s Anxiety Disorder?
Anxiety disorders are known to affect 25% of children between 13 and 18 years of age and can severely interfere with your child’s life. Untreated anxiety disorders are known to lead to a decline in school performance, substance abuse disorders and poor social interactions. Anxiety disorders include a broad spectrum of disorders from generalized anxiety […]…
Is My Teenager Depressed?
Teenagers face a host of pressures, from the hormonal changes of puberty and building their self-esteem, to facing peer pressure about sex, drugs, and alcohol. With all this turmoil and uncertainty, it isn’t always easy to differentiate between normal teenage growing pains and depression. Many parents expect some trouble from their teenagers and believe that […]…
Understanding Xanax Addiction: What Does Xanax Do?
Xanax, formally know as alprazolam, is a short-acting benzodiazepine, that is used to treat anxiety disorders including panic disorder. It is also used to help wean individuals from alcohol dependence in order to avoid alcohol withdrawal, which can lead to seizures. Benzodiazepines are also known for their strong addiction potential and have resulted in approximately […]…
Obstacles Teens Encounter when Entering Drug Addiction Rehab
The teenage years can be challenging. Navigating through puberty, peer pressure and tackling raging hormones in addition to balancing school and home life can seem very stressful in the moment. Teenager’s brains are not fully developed and they are more at risk for rash decision-making, which partially is the reason why teenagers engage in risky […]…
Risky Business: Habits and Behaviors that Increase the Risk of Developing a Mental Health Disorder
According to statistics, approximately one in five Americans will be affected by a mental health condition at least once in their lifetime and this impact has a major ripple effect on their friends and family. Four of the 10 leading causes of disability in the United States and other developed countries are mental health disorders, […]…
The Truth About Polysubstance Abuse Disorder
Polysubstance abuse refers to the consumption of one or more illicit substances over a defined period or simultaneously. It was once a diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, but it was eliminated from the DSM-5 criteria. Currently, substance use disorder is the proper term for anyone with a substance abuse problem, […]…