The information in this post is based on my clinical interviews with teenagers that suffer from marijuana dependency. “I had my first hit of marijuana was in middle school, in a park near my house, hanging out, basically doing nothing. My friend took out a marijuana joint that his brother gave him for his thirteenth […]
Marijuana is enjoying a surge in popularity. Legalization has increased and spread to over 25 states as medical studies continue to show the benefits of weed for treating conditions including anorexia, chronic pain, PTSD, and some forms of cancer. But before you embrace your inner stoner, there’s increasing evidence that the abuse of weed edibles […]
Picture this: You and your partner are enjoying dinner at your favorite restaurant and savoring quality kid-free time together. Meanwhile, your teenager invites friends over and they bring alcohol, marijuana or other drugs into your home to share. Perhaps your kid generously opens your liquor cabinet and they help themselves to your favorite booze. Believe […]
You never thought he would relapse… You trusted him. He promised you that he’d changed. Convinced you that he’d learned his lesson, that his days of using drugs and alcohol were over. He finished a rehab program, celebrated the anniversary of his abstinence with you. He hugged and thanked you for being there, for not abandoning […]
Parents beware, your kid could end up in jail. It’s a situation that happens daily throughout the country. Teens meet after school in local parks, homes or at parties to get high together. Thanks to advances in technology, such as cell phones, the Internet and social media, obtaining illegal substances has never been easier. In […]
Figuring out whether or not your teenager is using drugs can be a challenge. I sat down with Holly Holloway from MedMark Treatment Centers to discuss what concerned parents can do. Holly works to help spread awareness and end the stigma of addiction. Here’s what she had to say: Young adults deal with many physical […]
Prescription med overdoses now surpass cocaine, heroin, and meth combined. For nearly 25 years I have worked with teenagers in therapy groups and asked them to identify any mood altering substances that they or their friends have tried. Year after year, the top two answers were always the same: marijuana and alcohol. Recently, I asked […]
3 ways to care for yourself and find help. Addiction is a disease like no other. It doesn’t appear on x-rays, it isn’t an injury or allergy with a simple cure. It’s a phantom that travels through families, crossing decades, and suddenly reappearing in new generations. It destroys marriages and devastates relationships. It forever changes […]
Technology Without Supervision? A few months ago, I was leading my therapy group for struggling college students; young people who feel socially isolated and alone. Some have dropped out of school, some white-knuckled their way through only to graduate and half-heartedly look for work while living with their over-accommodating parents. While struggling to help them […]
