Saving Jake: A Family Memoir of Opioid Addiction

* Author D’Anne Burwell will be a featured speaker at an ACS Educational Symposium March 5th, 2016 covering Substance Abuse Issues and Treatment.  D’Anne is a local Bay Area author, speaker and mentor; frequenting addiction recovery meetings and working tirelessly in the community to raise awareness about drug crises. Below is a review of her newly […]

Read More

World Suicide Prevention Day 2015

  In recognizing World Suicide Prevention Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) highlight ways to be aware of those at risk of suicide and how to help them get to lifesaving help.   Reaching out to those at risk of suicide According to the recently released World Health Organization (WHO) […]

Read More

What’s Self-Esteem Got to Do With It?

By: JoAnn Kukulus, MS Clinical Psychology/MFTI, ACS Clinical Intern If esteem (as in “my esteemed colleagues…”) is the value and worth one applies to people, places, and situations then it naturally follows that ‘self-esteem’ is the value and worth an individual applies to herself or himself.  We can frame a picture of how we feel […]

Read More

Teens’ overall substance use declining, but marijuana use rising

Image: Torbin Hansen, Marijuana Joint Reported by: EurekAlert!, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)   Marijuana use in teenagers is on the rise, while cigarette and alcohol use are stable or declining, according to health statistics researchers. In particular, black teens are using more marijuana than in recent decades. “Our analysis shows […]

Read More

Timeline: Key events in the history of U.S. gay rights

Image: LSE Library, Gay Pride Banners 1974   ** ACS is the home of the Outlet program, a prominent peninsula LGBTQQ community support organization.  We strive to bring awareness to the LGBTQQ community and the struggles faced by this population-help us celebrate PRIDE month by visiting our PRIDE page today! **     A timeline […]

Read More

Salinas High Crowns its first Transgender Prom Queen

Image: Crowns for the Cause, Effie Horning Interview by: Roberto M. Robledo    In an interview with The Salinas Californian, the 18-year-old related her story of transition. It is a story of hardship, violence, hatred, love, joy, tears, laughter, pride and acceptance. •The Salinas Californian: When did you become Angie? Angie Esteban:“I kind of already […]

Read More

A Different Method to Coping with Stress in High School Academics

Image: CollegeDegrees360, Stressed Student  Author: Mayra Vargas, MFTI, Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program   It’s not news that academics have become a stressful full-time job for teens as they compete to be the best of the best for the top colleges in the country. This may cause stress, anxiety, and/or depression due to the overwhelming feelings of trying to […]

Read More

Conscious Parenting

by Roni Gillenson, LMFT Program Director, On Campus Counseling Program   It has been said time and time again that parenting is one of the most challenging jobs.  As we think about how we were raised, what we want to do the same or different in parenting and examine the role models we want to be […]

Read More

Drunk Driving: Know the Real Costs

  Author: Monica Ippolito, Marriage & Family Therapist Intern, Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program   As we leave Alcohol Awareness Month (April), it is fitting to review and clarify California’s laws on Driving Under the Influence (DUI). When a police officer pulls you over or you drive through a DUI checkpoint, you will be asked several questions and are […]

Read More