This blog is based on notes (with some additions by BTI) taken during a Facebook Live presentation on March 22, 2020 by Lisa Damour, PhD, a clinical psycholo...

Paying Attention to Your Child’s Well-Being In navigating these uncertain times, parents are in unchartered waters. A silver lining is that with shelter-in-...

In these surreal and stressful times of coronavirus, there are silver linings. Sheltering-in-place affords families more time together. With children at home...

Despite the fact that the vaping crisis headlines are fading, the numbers on usage and lung illnesses are still concerning. Data on Usage - Cannabis and Nico...

The numbers are not good. Vaping rates among youth are continuing their year-to-year surge. Data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) of the Centers...

Teenagers rail against hypocrisy. Challenging the views of one’s parents and seeking personal truth is a generational right-of-passage, a healthy part of grow...

Most parents will tell you that it isn’t uncommon to see alcohol consumed on the sidelines at youth sporting events or at team parties. Or that they have bee...

Welcome to the 2019-20 School Year! The beginning of school is always an exciting time, full of energy, anticipation and a bit of nervousness - for both stu...

Discuss don't lecture! Have early and frequent discussions with your teen about the effects and dangers of these drugs. For an excellent

Alcohol, ecstasy, cocaine and amphetamines are popular party drugs, particularly with older teens and 20-somethings. Ecstasy and its various forms (known as ...

You have been discussing substance use for years with your child and they well know that you disapprove of their substance use and you hope they will abstain...

The operative advice is when in doubt, call 911. Here are specific tips as to what to do, depending on the person's state. If a person is conscious and resp...

Prom is always an exciting and special time for parents and teens alike. Teens are increasingly creative these days with "Promposals". As a result, there is ...

"420" or April 20th is coming up. And its on a Saturday this year. The date has evolved into an unofficial “holiday” for some and is observed by smoking, va...

Between driving drunk and driving high, there is a serious knowledge gap. Maybe more of a chasm, really. Consider this: You would be hard-pressed to find a ...

WHAT'S NEW ON VAPING? Although e-cigarettes began flooding the U.S. market about 12 years ago, they were not popular with adolescents until just a few years ...

What's the problem with something that causes a release of dopamine and relaxes and makes you feel good? Plenty, at least with respect to adolescents. Althou...

Just as several hundred Drake High School students headed to their annual Winter Formal dance on January 25, 2019, some students sought an alternate entertai...

Alcohol is especially ubiquitous over the holidays. It is the most widely used drug by adults in the U.S. and is so common and accepted in our society that m...

Alcohol has a more profound and lasting effect on adolescents than it does on mature adults, who have completed their growth cycles. Abuse can disrupt the no...