A vast majority of people don’t know how to label addiction. So is addiction a disease or a lifestyle choice? It often shocks people to learn that most medical associations list addiction as a disease. Below is a closer look at addiction and why experts consider it a disease. So, Is Addiction a Disease? According…
For anyone over the age of 21 beer, liquor, wine, and other spirits are widely available for purchase in the United States. This availability is not meant to provide teens with alcohol. Unfortunately, even the best efforts to control teen drinking do not stop many young people from engaging in teen alcohol abuse. But how…
Experiencing personal challenges as a teen can be painful and confusing. Some kinds of struggles are invisible to others, but they still deeply affect the way you think and feel, even how you feel about yourself. In the midst of these private battles, you may truly want help, for someone who can lend a hand and…
Whether or not your child has struggled with substance abuse or addiction in the past, sending her off to college is a prospect you, like many parents, may find more than a little terrifying. According to a study published in the journal Addictive Behaviors, more than two-thirds of the eight million college students in 2003…
Staying sober isn’t easy when your peers and friends are experimenting or are abusing drugs and alcohol. In this post, we offer some helpful tips and reminders on how to stay sober and clean, even when you may be tempted or pressured to experiment. 1. Tell your friends about your decision to stop using drugs.…
When a loved one completes a treatment program, his or her goal focuses on remaining sober and avoiding substance abuse. The National Institute on Drug Abuse explains that individuals need continuing care that adjusts and changes over time to address a loved one’s needs. For teenagers, a treatment program that incorporates aftercare and provides long-term…
Encouraging a teenager or adolescent to avoid drugs or alcohol often requires a strong support network and professional assistance. Since the causes of teenage substance abuse stem from multiple causes and the best treatment approach depends on their individual situation, identifying the right treatment plan takes time. Fortunately, the National Institute on Drug Abuse suggests…
Completing a substance abuse treatment program marks a huge milestone in your overall recovery. However, it doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods. Research estimates that more than 50 percent of addicts relapse during the first four years after treatment, and adolescents are at an especially high risk due to inexperience. Relapse triggers can be…
If your child is abusing drugs, you may wonder how prevalent adolescent drug abuse is and what drugs are most often abused by adolescents. It’s been estimated nearly 24 million Americans used illegal drugs within the past month. That’s almost 10 percent of the population of the United States. These studies show that drugs are…
Experiencing a traumatic situation impacts a child’s emotional and mental health. In some cases, a traumatic experience leads to post-traumatic stress disorder and contributes to substance abuse. Psych Central reports that roughly 49 percent of women and 12 percent of men who abuse drugs report sexual abuse, including child sexual abuse. Furthermore, roughly 24 percent…