Youth Substance Use
Below are resources hand selected by me. Please enjoy my absolute favorite content.
-Kriya
Drug & Alcohol Info
CANNABIS:
Psychosis, Addiction, Chronic Vomiting: As Weed Becomes More Potent, Teens Are Getting Sick (NY Times)
Crucial intel on today's "weed" and THC concentrates.
Effects of Cannabis on Adolescent and Young-Adult Brains (video) - Andrew Huberman Lab
Ask a Doctor: How Does Cannabis Affect the Adolescent Brain? (Washington Post)
Using Weed Regularly Raises the Risk of Heart Problems for Young People, Studies Find (CNN)
ALCOHOL:
What Alcohol Does to Your Brain, Body & Health (video) - Andrew Huberman Lab
GENERAL:
Talk it Out NC
NC-specific website with state data, alcohol and teen brain info, and parenting tips.
Get Smart About Drugs
http://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com
DEA Parent website. Comprehensive info on latest teen use trends, news stories, and research.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Scientific Information about all drugs of abuse and how to assess problems.
Parents. The Anti-Drug.
Info on popular substances of abuse. Comprehensive information on how to spot, prevent, and respond to teen substance use. Includes parenting tips and a parenting newsletter.
The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids
Science-based resources, thorough info to help parents prevent, intervene in, and find treatment for alcohol and drug use.
National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence (NCADD)
Educational materials on alcohol abuse/addiction and drug addiction.
Still Blowing Smoke
Up-to-date Info on ecigs. Great collection of articles.
Truth Initiative
Anti-nicotine education, research and activism.
Be Smart. Be Well.
http://www.besmartbewell.com/drug-safety
Substance-related news stories updated daily and great educational videos
Drug Slang Dictionary
http://www.noslang.com/drugs/dictionary
Stay on top of the latest substance-related lingo.
The Vaults of Erowid
Controversial website that includes extensive "experience reports." One of the best ways to see what's out there at the moment, and how and why young people are using it.
Pill Identifier
https://www.drugs.com/pill_identification.html
Search by color, shape and imprint codes
Current Statistics
National middle & high school survey that includes questions on substance abuse and other high-risk behaviors, providing a breakdown of state data.
Survey of national youth drug trends conducted for 25+ years
National Survey on Drug Abuse and Health
Surveys national drug abuse trends in kids age 12+
Nicotine Cessation
Teens receive 5 free text, phone or online support in the form of 5 sessions with a “Personal Quitting Coach” that uses motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioral strategies.
This text-based program from “Truth Initiative” involves receiving messages focused on building skills and confidence, and instant support when needed.
Free smartphone app to guide teens and young adults in quitting nicotine. Serves as a coach, cheerleader and distracting playmate all in one!
Prevention/Discussion Tips
How to Prevent Drug Use at Every Age
FANTASTIC tips for conversations with kids from preschool to college-age.
Talking about marijuana is increasingly complicated and confusing as the laws and societal attitudes increasingly change around it. This is an EXCELLENT guide for how to have a scientifically and reality-based conversation with your adolescent.
10 Tips for Responding if you Discover Your Teen Drinking or Using Drugs
Tips to Help Your Teen Avoid Summer Substance Use
How to Talk to Kids About Drugs in the Age of Fentanyl (NY Times)
Safety First: A Reality-Based Approach to Teens and Drugs
Keeping Your Teens Drug Free: A Family Guide
Start Talking Before They Start Drinking: A Family Guide
Make a Difference: Talk to Your Child about Alcohol
Growing Up Drug-Free: A Parent's Guide to Prevention
6 Parenting Practices that Help Reduce the Chances your Child Will Develop a Drug or Alcohol Problem
Teen Drug Abuse: 14 Mistakes Parents Make
Online Safety
Depicts commonly used emojis for drug discussions & dealings on social media
Teens are Using Emojis and Secret Lingo to FInd Drugs (Today Show)
Understanding Addiction & Problem Use
Swiss Cheese Model Of Addiction (1 min Video)
A kid/teen-friendly explanation of risk vs "protective" factors for developing problem use
Addiction & The Brain For Kids (4 min Video)
An animated video explaining the brain science related to an addiction, giving a destigmatizing perspective on cravings and centering substance use above all else
Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong (14 min Video)
Johann Hari reviews the famous "Rat Park" experiment that highlighted the role that (lack of) connection plays in addiction
What Causes Addiction (The Rat Park Experiment) (3:30 min Video)
A shorter animated version of the "Rat Park experiment" that Johann Hari explains above
Teens & Parents React to Meeting Survivors of Addiction
This edition of the popular "React" series sparks a powerful opportunity to humanize people struggling with addiction, and highlight their journey in and out of it
Current Statistics
National middle & high school survey that includes questions on substance abuse and other high-risk behaviors, providing a breakdown of state data.
Survey of national youth drug trends conducted for 25+ years
National Survey on Drug Abuse and Health
Surveys national drug abuse trends in kids age 12+
Books
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High: Everything You Want to Know About Drugs, Alcohol, and Addiction - David & Nic Sheff (for teens)
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Just Say Know: Talking to Kids About Drugs and Alcohol - Cynthia Kuhn & Scott Swartzwelder
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The Addiction Innoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence - Jessica Lahey
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Buzzed: The Straight Facts about the Most Used and Abused Drugs from Alcohol to Ecstasy - Cynthia Kuhn, Scott Swartzwelder, Wilkie Wilson
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From Chocolate to Morphine: Everything You Need to Know about Mind-Altering Drugs - Andrew Weil & Winifred Rosen
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Addiction Proof Your Child - Stanton Peele
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One Choice: How Ten Seconds Can Change Your Life - Becky Savage (About the tragic accidental overdose of BOTH of her teen sons in one night)
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The Dangerous Truth About Today's Marijuana - Laura Stack (About her son's cannabis-concentrate-related fatal depression)
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From Binge to Blackout: A Mother and Son Struggle with Teen Drinking - Chris Volkmann & Toren Volkmann
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Teens Under the Influence: The Truth About Kids, Alcohol and other Drugs - How to Recognize the Problem and What to Do About it - Katherine Ketcham & Nicholas Pace
Apps
Partnership for Drug-Free Kids Drug Guide
Talk. They Hear You. (underage drinking prevention)