In our last blog post about women and substance abuse, we discussed the narrowing gender gap in drug use among our youth. The years when addiction was more prominent, more worrisome, in men, have now vanished. Today, the rate of substance dependence among young women has become nearly equivalent to that of young men. As […]

Addiction research has long been geared towards men. Twenty-five years ago, there was hardly any substantial research done surrounding women and substance abuse. We did not know the complexities of which drugs intertwined with the female body; we did not know the effects of substances on women; we did not know the patterns of female […]

Trauma is a deeply devastating, emotional response to a stressful or life-threatening event, such as an accident, natural disaster, violence or abuse. In most cases, however, trauma lasts long after an event has subsided. Traumatic experiences can cause an individual to have psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues for months and years after affliction. When most […]

Has your child just completed drug treatment? Is your loved one coming home from rehab? This is an exciting time for your family, but also a time of uncertainty. What should you expect? As a parent, you want to make your teen’s transition home from rehab as smooth as possible. What can you do to […]

At least one in five high school students have been bullied, harassed, or victimized by their peers. More than 13 million kids are bullied in the United States each year. If your child is being bullied, you are not alone. Bullying, like substance abuse, is an ongoing epidemic. For the majority of teens today, bullying is […]

One of the most crucial components of a successful recovery is relationships. Positive friends, family, and supportive relationships can often be the most beneficial influences on your sobriety. The problem, however, is that it is not always easy to build relationships and re-establish a social life after drug rehab. At the very least, it can […]

Gender makes a difference when looking at the physical effects of substance use and specific issues related to substance use disorders. – SAMHSA Addiction research, the effects of substance abuse, and drug treatment approaches have long-been geared towards men. In fact, it wasn’t until the early 90s that research surrounding the impact of substance abuse […]

Between the ages of 8 and 22, girls become young women. In these years, they are maturing both physically and mentally. They are forming their identity, a sense-of-self, and self-worth. These adolescent years are the most significant years of development, years critical to a young woman’s health and success later down the road. Unfortunately, adolescence […]

Recovery from addiction is a lifelong journey. It does not simply end when a person quits drugs, nor does it stop upon the completion of a drug treatment program. Recovery is an ongoing endeavor that requires great patience, commitment, and optimism. Unfortunately, the road to recovery often gets disrupted. The National Institute on Drug Abuse […]

Does your teen have trouble waking for school in the morning? Is he or she staying up all hours of the night? Is your teen losing sleep to social media, computer games, or late night parties? And are you, as a parent, losing communication with your teen? Staying up late, oversleeping, and sleep deprivation have […]