Teenagers are a psychologically vulnerable group due to a wide range of physical, mental and social changes. During this vulnerable age, teens often develop one or more mental illnesses that can seriously endanger their future physical and mental health. When a teen has an eating disorder as one of multiple comorbid conditions, the combination is […]

The “addiction gene” is often misunderstood. Current research proves there is no single addiction gene. Rather, vulnerability to addiction is the result of many interrelated genes and biological differences. These factors can influence how an individual is affected, but do not present a direct cause in themselves. No one is born an addict. Despite genetic […]

The National Alliance on Mental Illness says 1 in 5 children between the ages of 13 and 18 live with a severe mental illness. During this age range, the quality of the parent–child relationship is a major factor in determining the child’s future mental health. Although the influence of parents shrinks as children get older, […]

It wasn’t very many years ago that people had to walk across the room to change a TV channel and contacting a friend meant a landline phone call or a handwritten letter. If we had been able to take a peek into the future, we no doubt would have been amazed by Apple watches, online […]

Substance abuse is still common among teens, but it may be more tied to age than previously thought. Approximately 1 in 4 Americans who began using drugs or alcohol before their 18th birthday developed an addiction in the future, according to a study from Columbia University. This trend may be the key to understanding and preventing […]

Juvenile courts avoid meting out harsh punishments for juvenile drug offenders. The impetus behind these lenient sentences is reform and rehabilitation. Ostensibly, this is the same modus operandi for criminal courts. But despite Washington and Colorado legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana; despite California’s Proposition 48 that reduces many drug-related felonies to misdemeanors […]

When friends have a problem with alcohol or drugs, it may be difficult to know how to help them. At first, it may be hard to tell if they have a problem because they may use alcohol or drugs alone and to hide it from everyone around them, including you. If you try confronting them, […]

A teenager caught using marijuana may respond with, “What’s the big deal? It’s legal in some places now, it shouldn’t be an issue,” or, “A lot of other people at school are doing it.” A teen may even goad parents with, “Go on and tell me how it is bad for my health. Find me […]

An eating disorder changes everything. Families and friends experience personal pain as they watch someone they love slowly destroying themselves and feel helpless in trying to save them. The very basic experience of having a family dinner and talking about how the day went transforms into silence and nervous tension. A study published in the […]

It’s almost impossible not to notice the latest smoking trend: e-cigarettes. (Of course, using e-cigarettes isn’t technically smoking; it’s vaping — more on that later.) Specialty shops boast about their health benefits compared to normal cigarettes, advertising vapors in various flavors including banana, apple and even birthday cake. Many (or perhaps even most) people who […]