Becoming an athlete takes years of training, practice and endurance combined with a healthy lifestyle and innate talent. Professional sports players are some of the most popular celebrities. But there’s a dark side to the lifestyle of being a star athlete — substance abuse. Many of today’s top athletes have struggled with addiction to drugs or…
February is teen dating violence awareness month. However, it’s nothing to celebrate. Unlike Valentine’s Day with its hearts and candies, this occasion spells trouble. Most importantly, it has far-reaching consequences. Understanding the Importance of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month If you’re an adolescent in a romantic relationship, you might not know what’s normal and what…
Our nation’s teens are particularly vulnerable to falling prey to drug and alcohol addiction. At the center of this vulnerability is the fact that most teens don’t know the truth about drugs and alcohol. They tend to operate around myths that their peers pass around. How can we combat this problem and better educate our…
Vaping is the act of inhaling and then exhaling aerosol or vapor from a liquid that contains nicotine or other drugs, like THC. The vapor is produced by an e-cigarette or other device, like a vape pen or Juul. Juul and other e-cigarette companies have come under fire for deceptive advertising targeting their products to youth,…
What is Marijuana? Cannabis, also called marijuana, pot or weed, is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. Marijuana is a greenish-gray mixture of dried, shredded pieces of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. The main compound of marijuana, THC, is what is believed to alter chemicals in the brain to produce a “high.” Addiction…
The most important thing you can do if you think your teen is struggling with teen drug use is to talk to them about it. Even if you aren’t worried about teen drug use yet, drug and alcohol prevention should start early. Research indicates that when parents talk to their kids openly about drugs and drinking,…
Nearly 70 percent of high school seniors have tried alcohol, 50 percent have taken an illegal drug and more than 20 percent have used a prescription drug for a non-medical reason. Research has found most people start misusing drugs and alcohol during this time. Learn more about adolescent substance abuse, and why teen drug abuse and teen alcohol…
Many people perceive loneliness to be a problem that mostly affects older populations. However, a new Cigna study found that Americans, as a whole, are disconnecting from mental health, with adolescents and young adults reporting the highest rates of loneliness. So what’s behind this wave of isolation? While some people blame the younger generations’ fixation on social…
It’s warming up (unless you’re in Chicago), finals are looming, bank statements are lowering, meaning one thing for high schoolers and their parents: prom. For many, prom marks the end of high school and a transition into uncharted territory. Students may be leaving home for college, entering the workforce full-time, or struggling to figure out…