By: JoAnn Kukulus, M.S. Clinical Psychology BBS Registered Intern at Adolescent Counseling Services Increasingly at Adolescent Counseling Services, we are encountering clients who are struggling with both alcohol or substance use/abuse and mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, and the effects of trauma (PTSD). The intersection of these conditions is rapidly gaining […]
Continue reading“Sizzurp”- A Risky Drug Available at your Local Drugstore
By: Taryn Bogonovich Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program Intern Teens have been known to experiment with new ways to get a “high”. You may have heard the news recently about a new craze referred to as “Sizzurp” or “Purple Drank”, which is a mix of soda, candy and prescription cough syrup with codeine. While rap musicians […]
Continue readingMedical Marijuana Sharing Amongst Adolescents
As medicinal marijuana is more available in some states, via legal marijuana dispensaries, a new study from the University of Colorado School of Medicine found that it is very common for adolescents in substance abuse treatment programs to use medical marijuana recommended to someone else (also known as “diverted” medical marijuana). The study, “Medical Marijuana […]
Continue readingHow to Spot the First Signs of Teen Depression
Recently About.com posted a really helpful post about the “First Signs of Teen Depression.” The post was written by About.com’s resident teen health expert Denise Witmer. Here is the beginning of Denise’s post. Many times parents of teens who have tried to or have committed suicide struggle with the idea that there were signs of […]
Continue readingAfter-school Alcohol Education Program for Middle School Ages Shows Positive Results
The age at which children begin drinking is surprising. According to a pamphlet distributed by the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse, “by 8th grade, 38.9% of American children have tried alcohol and 17.9% of 8th graders have been drunk at least once.” To combat these percentages Elizabeth D’Amico, a psychologist who has been […]
Continue readingEverything You Wanted To Say To Your Middle Schooler, But Didn’t Know How-Part IV
By Philippe Rey, Psy. D. Executive Director of Adolescent Counseling Services So now that we have a good idea about what is really going on with drugs and alcohol, let’s look at more ways we can help our teens. As I mentioned last week, as parents your task is to encourage choice. That means that […]
Continue readingTeens and Drinking: Beyond the Obvious Influences
when trying to find the influence behind a teen’s fixation with alcohol, there are the usual suspects- their closest friends, the boyfriend/girlfriend, or the environment at home. But recent studies are showing that the linkage between teens and alcohol may not be as direct as it seems. Studies show that if a teen is in […]
Continue readingSeptember Is National Recovery Month!
As September marks the beginning of a new school year and a new season, September also honors a new beginning for those who choose recovery as the next step in their lives. This month is National Recovery Month and ACS not only wants to celebrate those who are in recovery, but those treatment providers and […]
Continue readingNew Study Reveals Link Between Marijuana Use Amongst Youth and Mental Illness
Marijuana has been a controversial drug that has had many on the fence about its harmful affects. However, a recent study has concluded that early use of marijuana may cause psyhciatric disorders to develop earlier (as early as 12) rather then developing at a later age (usually 20’s or 30’s). Another concern is that early marijuana use […]
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