Prescription drugs are more abused than all illegal drugs combined (except marijuana). Prescription drug deaths now outnumber traffic fatalities in the U.S. Many addictions begin with treatment of legitimate health issues.

Red flag warnings: Missing household items, such as: alcohol, money, or jewelry Behavior changes: Overreacts when asked about plans Overly sleepy/energetic Change in friends Withdrawal from family (dinners, trips, conversations, etc.) Talking/texting in the middle of the night (check phone bill for out of town area codes)

The most commonly used drug among teens, second to alcohol, is marijuana. Our culture often glamorizes the use of marijuana, especially the media and music industry. The misconception is that it’s harmless, which is not the case.

Prevalence of Drinking: According to the 2018 NSDUH, 29.8 percent of 15-year-olds report that they have had at least 1 drink in their lives. About 7.1 million people ages 12–2015 (18.8 percent of this age group) reported drinking alcohol in the past month (18.2 percent of males and 19.5 percent of females).

Teenagers naturally go through ups and downs; but when the lows become especially low, and are long lasting, it may be much more serious. According to the CDC, suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10 and 24.

Study when you study, have fun when you have fun you’ll do a much better job at both if you’re not trying to do them at the same time. Give yourself a break even when you are totally swamped take 5 - 15 minutes to get some fresh air, listen to music, call a friend. Exercise take a walk, play tennis, go for a hike, join a yoga class.

With the first quarter of the school year under our belts amidst an ongoing pandemic and a society polarized over political, economic, environmental, and human rights issues, our world has become an increasingly stressful environment—especially for our kids. It is crucial that we check in on our children and their mental health.

Mental health issues can be experienced in different ways. These struggles become more prominent during adolescence. Mental health goes beyond emotional reactions and can become something longer lasting.