Blog

Celeb Champions Children’s Mental Health

demi-lovato-samsha

Demi Lovato recently joined SAMHSA in Washington, DC to bring awareness to kids’ mental health issues.

Young singer and Disney star Demi Lovato lent her name and her time to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), as they celebrated the eighth annual National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day on May 7, 2013. A press briefing was held on the big day at the University of the District of Columbia

Keep Reading

Do Products Encourage Overindulging?

underage-drinking

A new line of prescription-themed shot glasses, coasters and flasks marketed to young drinkers seems to make light of drinking to excess.

At a time when underage drinking is a problem and alcohol poisoning puts teens and college students at risk, it seems irresponsible to market products to that age group that encourage drinking to excess. Urban Outfitters, known for supplying teens and college students with trendy, low-cost clothing, accessories and household goods, knows its market. They’ve

Keep Reading

Addicted to Junk Food?

fast-food-addiction

We crave junk food and can’t seem to get enough, but that doesn’t mean it leads to addiction.

These days almost anything you can do to excess is given “addiction” status. If pop culture is to be believed, you can be addicted to your smart phone, texting, gaming, tanning, exercising and junk food. Well, we hate to break it to you, but, even if you have a hard time saying “no” to those

Keep Reading

There’s a Pill for That

pill-abuse-in-america

We’ve learned that no matter the ailment, there’s a medication for it, but can we get real relief without addressing the underlying problems?

We’ve become a nation of pill poppers. Can’t sleep? Trouble focusing? Anxious or depressed? High cholesterol? Just take the corresponding pill, and everything will be all right. Or will it? Modern medicine has made amazing advances that save lives every day, but with that progress has come an unintended side effect. Medication has become so

Keep Reading

Celeb-Branded Marijuana Blends

celebrity-marijuana-brands

Stars are mixing their own blends of medical marijuana in the latest celeb endorsement trend.

Is the world ready for celebrity-branded marijuana? A member of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony believes so. Stanley “Flesh-N-Bone” Howse recently announced he is partnering with a company to create his own strain of medical marijuana. Michigan Live recently reported that the musician has partnered with a Michigan-based medical marijuana facility to create a new strain of marijuana

Keep Reading

Pain Management for Those in Recovery

pain-management-opioid-addiction

Getting pain relief can be a tricky for those who’ve successfully battled an addiction.

Surgery can be a necessary part of life, but going under the knife holds additional risks for those who have overcome addiction. They need to find ways to manage pain without falling back into addiction. Opioid painkiller use after surgery is particularly worrisome for those in recovery and can put hard-won sobriety at risk. The

Keep Reading

Drug Abuse Tops List of Childhood Health Concerns

drug-abuse-childhood-health-concerns

Drug abuse, teen pregnancy, obesity and “sexting” rank high when it comes to problems plaguing our youth.

It’s a dubious honor, but drug abuse made the list. So did obesity, “sexting” and teen pregnancy. What kind of list is this, you ask? The fifth annual National Poll on Children’s Health. Childhood obesity and drug abuse tied for first place on the recent Children’s Health Issues Report, and sexting made its first appearance.

Keep Reading

Singers Promote Sizzurp

sizzurp-cough-syrup-codeine

Is hip-hop music making kids aware of syrup and getting them hooked?

Teens are susceptible to messages from the media heroes they look up to. Athletes, musicians and actors can make unhealthy choices seem appealing. Smoking, drinking and drugs are negative habits that have been glamorized by celebrities, and one of the latest dangerous substances to be touted via song is “sizzurp.” The term has popped up

Keep Reading

Honor Student Is Latest Huffing Victim

teen-drug-huffing

An eighth-grader passed away because of a dangerous drug trend that she may not have realized is deadly.

The story is the same, but the substance changes. For decades we’ve been hearing tragic tales of teens losing their life to what they thought was harmless experimentation with drugs.  This time the story is about a 14-year-old honor student from Northridge, California. Aria Doherty died after inhaling computer keyboard cleaner, a growing trend among

Keep Reading

Sex Addiction as Defense?

sex-addiction-criminal-defense

A recent case raised the question of whether addiction issues should factor into the sentencing of those who break the law.

Is addiction a defense for breaking the law? Should ongoing issues be factored in when someone is charged with committing a crime? A former hospital executive sentenced to nine years in prison in a public corruption investigation in Cleveland thought so. Unfortunately, the judge didn’t agree. The 66-year-old lost his bid for a shorter sentence

Keep Reading