Written By: Connor Freeh, Clinical Trainee at ACS, Adolescent Substance Addiction Treatment Program WHAT IS HARM REDUCTION?Harm reduction in substance addiction treatment is primarily focused on keeping young adults alive. This is achieved through various means that also include abstinence as the ultimate goal. The pathway toward recovery can be long, with several different routes, […]
Reported By: Aimee Cunningham, NPR Health News “Parental monitoring and warmth are a protective device against kids’ binge drinking.” While a sense of inevitability often surrounds the topic of teen drinking, adults can play an important role in preventing underage alcohol use. Two recent studies provide guidance for parents. One finds that parents […]
Written By: Laura Cole, ACS Clinical Intern, Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment and Community Counseling Programs ACS’ Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program depends on the participation of not only the teen struggling with substance abuse, but the family or guardian as well. Addiction affects the entire family, and each family member has a personal responsibility to the […]
Written By: Dafne Luna, Outlet Program Coordinator The use of recreational drugs and alcohol in this community is incredibly widespread and, unfortunately, is sometimes encouraged as a cultural norm. For many queer and trans* youth, drinking is almost a rite of passage into Queer culture. There are very few places, meetups, and activities where large […]
Written By: JoAnn Kukulus, MFTI | ACS’ Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program & Community Counseling Program Recently I had the opportunity to become trained and certified to implement a group and individual curriculum called “Mindfulness-Based Substance Abuse Treatment for Adolescents,” which the ACS programs are beginning to utilize. This relatively new evidence-based curriculum, founded by Sam Himelstein […]
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 […]
Image: Herald Post Originally Published March 2010 Commentary by ACS Executive Director, Dr. Philippe Rey Encourage choice •Allow your child plenty of opportunity to become a confident decision-maker. An 8-year-old is capable of deciding if she wants to invite lots of friends to her birthday party or just a close pal or two. A 12-year-old can […]
By: Beverly Reyes ACS Intern in Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/palcohol-powdered-alcohol-may-present-serious-health-risks/ A new product going by the brand name Palcohol got a rush of media attention this week. Palcohol is simply freeze-dried alcohol in powder form, packaged in small packets that promise an easy way to take a stiff drink on the go. Some health […]
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 […]
Two studies have recently come out showing a higher prevalence of substance abuse and cigarette use amongst adolescents with mental health disorders. The first study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry revealed a significantly higher prevalence of substance abuse and cigarette use by adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity […]
