Substance Abuse

How Parents Can Help Their Underage Kids Resist Alcohol

in Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment / Binge Drinking / Drinking / Drugs & Alcohol / E-News / Marijuana / Parenting / Prescription Drugs / Prevention / Recent Trends / Recovery / Risky Behaviour / Smoking / Teen Partying / Treatment  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

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 […]

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The Addict and the Enabler

in Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment / After-School Counseling / Co-Occuring Disorders / Community Counseling / Drugs & Alcohol / E-News / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Recent Trends / Recovery / Risky Behaviour / Setting Boundaries / Teen Partying / Teen Peer Groups / Treatment  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

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 […]

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Substance Abuse in the LGBTQQ+ Community

in Drugs & Alcohol / E-News / Gender identity / LGBTQ Issues / Outlet  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

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 […]

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ACS Practices Mindfulness!

in Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment / Co-Occuring Disorders / Community Counseling / Drugs & Alcohol / E-News / Mental Health / Parent Tips / Prevention / Recovery / Treatment  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

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 […]

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Teens’ overall substance use declining, but marijuana use rising

in Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment / Drinking / Drugs & Alcohol / E-News / Marijuana / Smoking / Substance Abuse  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

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 […]

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Adolescents in Middle School: Part 3

in Drugs & Alcohol / Middle School Behavior / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Teaching Mindfulness  by Lindsey Leason 0 comments

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 […]

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What is “Palcohol”?

in Bingeing / Drinking / Drugs & Alcohol / Marijuana / Palcohol  by acsteens 0 comments

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 […]

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“Sizzurp”- A Risky Drug Available at your Local Drugstore

in Drugs & Alcohol / Other / Prescription Drugs / Sizzurp  by acsteens 0 comments

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 […]

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Studys Show Substance Abuse Use Higher in Teens with Mental Health Issues

in Co-Occuring Disorders / Drugs & Alcohol / Mental Health / Smoking / Teenage Smoking / Uncategorized  by acsteens 0 comments

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 […]

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ACS’ Program Directors Words of Advice for the Holidays

in Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Teens and holidays / Uncategorized  by acsteens 0 comments

With the holidays quickly approaching, many parents wonder how to survive this time of year with their troubled teens.  Here are some words of advice from Adolescent Counseling Services’ experienced program directors: Roni Gillenson, LMFT On-Campus Counseling Program Director In my work with teens and families over almost 20 years, probably my favorite moments have […]

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