Dealing with Anxiety During A PandemicAnxiety, Dual Diagnosis, Mental Health, Mental Health - Women, Teen IssuesBy Promises AustinJune 24, 2020For many people in America, anxiety is at an all-time high. This is a period of uncertainty. The last pandemic was one hundred years ago. This is something we have never experienced before, and that creates fear. Stock market concerns, empty supermarket shelves, fear of job loss, and many other issues add to fear of…
Common Reasons Teens Abuse Alcohol or DrugsAddiction Treatment, Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction, Family Resources, Personal Resources, Teen IssuesBy Promises AustinJune 14, 2020The teen years are often considered the most difficult period of a person’s life. After all, how often do you hear anyone over the age of 30 wistfully say, “Oh, to be 15 again…”? Probably never. It’s a vulnerable time of life as teens attempt to navigate the precarious bridge between childhood and adulthood. And…
Is My Loved One Struggling with Depression?Depression, Dual Diagnosis, Mental Health, Teen IssuesBy Promises AustinApril 29, 2020Symptoms can appear slowly over time or develop suddenly. When you have depression, symptoms impact how you think, feel, and act. Depression causes prolonged periods of sadness that don’t get better with time. Depression can occur after experiencing a negative event, like the death of a loved one, but the exact cause isn’t known. If…
Statistics on Teen Substance AbuseAddiction Treatment, Alcohol Abuse, Drug & Alcohol Detox, Drug Addiction, Dual Diagnosis, Teen IssuesBy Promises AustinApril 23, 2020Addiction is a chronic and progressive disease that doesn’t discriminate. Anyone, regardless of age, race, background, or gender, can develop a substance abuse disorder. While certain factors can increase your risk of developing an addiction, such as having a close family member with a substance abuse disorder, there is no known reason why only some…
Social Media, Teens, and Substance AbuseFamily Resources, Mental Health, Personal Resources, Teen IssuesBy Promises AustinMarch 2, 2020Social media is big for teens. It’s a major way in which they interact with each other, and it can be positive. There are many downsides to social media use too, as many parents know, and substance abuse and mental health issues are two very important ones. Social media use can become obsessive in some…
How to Help Your Teen Avoid DrugsAddiction Treatment, Drug Addiction Info, Family Resources, Recovery, Teen IssuesBy Promises AustinFebruary 22, 2020The Mayo Clinic staff posted the following article on teen drug abuse: Many teens experiment with drugs, putting their health and safety at risk—but teen drug abuse isn’t inevitable. You can help prevent teen drug abuse by talking to your teen about the consequences of using drugs and the importance of making healthy choices. Know…
Prom Night & Teen Drinking: The FactsTeen IssuesBy Promises AustinNovember 6, 2017High school prom is a milestone in the life of nearly every American teenager. Unfortunately, prom night drinking typically occurs in tandem with this special event. For many teens, prom may be the first time they ever drink alcohol, or the first time they binge drink and get truly drunk. Prom may also be the…
What are Scared Straight Programs and Do They Work?Teen IssuesBy Promises AustinApril 4, 2017By Cynthia Sass (byline) Trying to prevent teenagers from taking part in risky behavior and using alcohol and/or drugs can be a challenging undertaking. Many parents, and the community at large, have invested a great deal of time and effort in exploring how to ensure kids grow up happy, healthy and without the negative consequences…
What Are the Long-Term Effects of an Alcohol Overdose in Teens?Teen IssuesBy Promises AustinFebruary 16, 2017An alcohol overdose (i.e., alcohol poisoning) occurs when you consume alcohol at a rate fast enough to severely suppress normal activity in the body’s central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Every year, tens of thousands of teenagers throughout America expose themselves to an overdose risk by participating in a dangerous practice called binge drinking.…
Heavy Marijuana Use Can Alter Puberty, Stunt GrowthTeen IssuesBy Promises AustinJanuary 8, 2017New findings from a team of Pakistani scientists point to the potential for altered puberty and growth rates in adolescent boys with an addiction to the popular recreational drug marijuana. Researchers and public health officials are well-aware that, compared to adults, teenagers who consume marijuana have substantially higher chances of developing diagnosable symptoms of cannabis…