Helping Families Support a Loved One Using Substances By Susan Salomone, MS, CASAC – Drug Crisis in our Backyard; Family Support Navigator, Cove Care Center We have lost over 109,000 lives to drug overdose in this country in 2022. Like so many other families that have lost loved ones to this Opioid Epidemic, I divide […]
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month — a time to raise awareness on this stigmatized, and often taboo, topic. It is important to ensure that individuals, friends and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help. Informational Resources Crisis Resources 8 Evidence-Based Tips […]
The Alliance for Safe Kids (ASK) extends a warm welcome to each and every new subscriber from Drug Crisis in our Backyard! ASK’s mission is to connect the community to important resources that support youth mental health; substance use prevention, treatment and recovery; and opportunities for thoughtful service. Our mission is in alignment with Drug […]
For many children and young people, summer is one of the most anticipated times of the year. School is out and schedules are much more free and open. However, this unstructured time isn’t always easy, and may be especially challenging this summer. Over the past few years, symptoms of mental health concerns among young people rose precipitously, […]
Prom and Graduation Season Proms, graduations and the parties surrounding them can be an exciting time for teens and parents that they usually can remember throughout their lives. But they can also be a time of heartbreak. There are all too often negative consequences, serious injuries, and even deaths. The good news is that parents […]
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and there’s no better time than now to start making mental health a priority. Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable. People experiencing mental health challenges deserve support, compassion, and care—not stigma and shame. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, […]
April is Alcohol Awareness Month Talking to your child at an early age about drinking is the first step toward keeping them alcohol-free. But as they enter junior high and high school, the pressure to try alcohol increases. It’s important to continue the conversation throughout adolescence. Talking often builds an open, trusting relationship with your child. […]
The fact that marijuana and cannabis products are increasingly legal doesn’t mean that using marijuana is without risk. For example, marijuana use is the primary reason young people enter substance use treatment. High levels of THC, which is the chemical in marijuana that most affects the brain, has been linked to a variety of mental […]
Teen Dating Violence and Awareness Month February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. This is an issue that impacts everyone – not just teens – but their parents, teachers, friends and communities as well. Together, we can raise the nation’s awareness about teen dating violence and promote safe, healthy relationships. How Do I Get […]
How to help children and teens manage their stress (from the American Psychological Association) In the short term, stress can push a child to practice for her piano recital or inspire a teen to study when he’d rather be out with friends. But chronic stress—for example, from unrelenting pandemic-related pressures, social unrest, or violence—is different. Left […]