Parents Universal Resource Experts (Sue Scheff) Preventing Teen Drug Abuse

Preventing Drug Abuse: What Can You Do?

If you suspect your teen is doing any form of gateway drug, it's important to talk to them about it as soon as possible. Again, it is important to not yell or threaten. You will no doubt be scared and angry, but so is your teen. If they feel as though you don't support them or they can't talk to you, scaring them will only make the problem worse! Try to remain calm.

Assure your teen they can trust you and that you love them and want to help them. Explain harmful side effects of drugs, but assure them it's not too late to get help, and that you will support them. Tell them about any changes you've noticed in their behavior and how those changes make you feel. Let them talk to you, and listen to them. Do not judge them or criticize them.

The first you need to do in order to prevent your teen from abusing drugs, alcohol or tobacco is to take seriously the threat posed by these substances to your child. You have to take seriously the risks posed because this will ultimately be the one catalyst that will allow you to talk to your teen about the problem in a frank and open manner. By taking to heart the importance of the matter at hand, you will be in a better position to urge your teen to do the same. You do not need to be harsh or judgmental with them. It is a better strategy to be as supportive as you can. If you insist on being hostile and angry with your teen, you will likely succeed in pushing them away form you and deeper into possible addiction.

Any treatment plan you decide upon for your teen should be dictated by the substances they abuse and how much they abuse them. For example, to send a child to a strict military-style school because they have tried drugs or alcohol a handful of times is something of an overreaction. Many times if a teen’s experiments with drugs, alcohol and tobacco are minor, a good open talk with them can convey all the information you want, and achieve very positive results in terms of future behavior.

Of course, the story is entirely different if your teen has become addicted to drugs and alcohol. In this instance, a detoxification program may be in order, along with a treatment regimen that helps wean the child off of drugs and replaces that with medicine. Studies have shown that the effectiveness of prescription medicine treatment for substance abuse is greatly enhanced when combined with one-on-one and/or family counseling.

One thing to remember if treatment becomes the order for the day when addressing your child’s substance issues is that relapse after treatment is common. This does not mean that you or your teen have failed any part of the recovery process. Addiction is extremely difficult to overcome and the most important thing to keep in mind is to take things one step at a time.

For more information about Teen Drug Abuse.

By Sue Scheff, Parents Universal Resource Experts

Wit's End! Book Information

Do you have a struggling teen? At risk teens? Defiant Teen? Teen Depression? Problem Teen? Difficult Teen? Teen Rage? Teen Anger? Teen Drug Use? Teen Gangs? Teen Runaways? Bipolar? ADD/ADHD? Disrespectful Teen? Out of Control Teen? Peer Pressure?Find about more about Boarding Schools, Military Schools, Christian Boarding Schools, Residential Treatment Centers, and Therapeutic Boarding Schools.

Teen Depression and Your Teenager - by Sue Scheff

Depression, as a clinical illness, will affect about 20% of teens before they reach adulthood.

Many young teens suffer from depression as result of situations surrounding their social or family life, but many are succeptable to the disease regardless of race, gender, income level or education. It is very important for parents to keep a watch on their teens - and to maintain a strong level of communication.

My name is Sue Scheff and I understand how difficult it can be dealing with a troubled teenager. Through my organization Parents Universal Resource Experts, I work with parents like you every day, looking for help and answers in desperation. You are not alone!
Here we have compiled some of the best articles and resources on teen depression for parents in need of help.

Depression is the most common mental health disorder or illness in the US among teenagers and adults. Statistics show that this is a very large and concerning problem.




About 20 percent of teens will experience teen depression before they reach adulthood.
Somewhere between 10 and 15 percent of teens show symptoms of depression at any given time.

About 5 percent of teens are suffering from major depression at any one time.

As many as 8.3 percent of teens suffer from depression for at least a year at a time.

Most teens with depression will suffer from more than one episode. 20 to 40 percent will have more than one episode within two years, and 70 percent will have more than one episode before adulthood. Episodes of teen depression generally last about 8 months.

Dysthymia, a type of mild, long-lasting depression, affects about 2 percent of teens, and about the same percentage of teens develop bipolar disorder in their late teenage years. 15 percent of teens with depression eventually develop bipolar disorder.

A small percent of teens also suffer from seasonal depression, usually during the winter months in higher latitudes.

30 percent of teens suffering from depression will also develop one or more problems with substance abuse.

Less than 33 percent of teens suffering from depression successfully seek and receive help for their disorder.
Common warning signs/symptoms of teenage depression

Changes in eating and sleeping habits (eating and sleeping too much or too little)

Significant change in weight (loss or gain)

Often misses school and/or shows bad school performance

Reclusive, withdrawing from friends or family members

Quick to show anger/rage

General restlessness or anxiety

Overreacts to criticism, even constructive

Seems very self conscious, guilty

Unusual problems with authority

No longer partakes in or enjoys activities and events they once loved

Indecision, lack of concentration, or forgetfulness

Feelings of worthlessness or guilt

Frequent health complaints despite being healthy

Lack of motivation and enthusiasm for every day life

Drug/alcohol abuse

Mentions or thoughts of suicide
There are many causes of teen depression. The most common causes are:


Significant life events like the death of a family member or close friend, parents divorce or split, breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, or moving to a new school/area.
Emotional/Physical neglect, being separated from a nurturer, abuse, damage to self esteem.

Many changes happening too quickly can cause depression. For some teens, any major change at one time can trigger symptoms.
Stress, especially in cases where the teen has little or no emotional support from parents, other family members, or friends.

Past traumatic events or experiences like sexual abuse, general abuse, or other major experiences often harbor deep within a child and emerge in the teen years. Most children are unable to process these types of events when they happen, but of course, they remember them. As they age, the events/experiences become clearer and they gain new understanding.

Changes associated with puberty often cause emotions labeled as depression.
Abuse of drugs or other substances can cause changes in the brainÕs chemistry, in many cases, causing some types of depression.

Some medical conditions such as hypothyroidism are believed to affect hormone and mood balance. Physical pain that is chronic can also trigger depression. In many cases, depression caused by medical conditions disappears when medical attention is sought and treatment occurs.

Depression is a genetic disorder, and teens with family members who have suffered from depression have a higher chance of developing it themselves.
For more information visit http://www.suescheff.org/ or http://www.helpyourteens.com/

Parents Universal Resource Experts (Sue Scheff) ADHD is Real

By Connect with Kids

“Kindergarten is when we started with the diagnosis. His kindergarten teacher noticed it, said he just couldn’t focus, couldn’t stay on task.”

– Katherine, mother

Hundreds of thousands of kids have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and many are taking stimulant medicine to help them succeed in school. Will these kids have to take pills for the rest of their lives? New research says maybe not.

Nine-year-old Mitchell has ADHD.

“Kindergarten is when we started with the diagnosis. His kindergarten teacher noticed it, said he just couldn’t focus, couldn’t stay on task. So we took him to his pediatrician and he noticed it right in his office and said, ‘Let’s try to get him on some medicine,’” says Katherine, Mitchell’s mother.

Since then, Mitchell has been on a stimulant ADHD medicine. But will he need the medication forever? Not necessarily, according to new research. Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health performed brain scans of more than 400 children. They found that children with ADHD had a three-year delay in development of the frontal lobe -- the area of the brain responsible for attention and planning.

“This study is important because now it links the behavioral disorder with a more medical or organic finding on brain development. I think it should also help parents to feel that it is a true disorder and is something that we’re trying to treat and to help the children get on task,” says Thomas Burns, Psy.D., Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

What’s more, says Burns, that three-year delay means some children with ADHD may outgrow their disorder.

“There’s a subset of kids that appear to catch up over time and for those children, it would fit with a small subset of the kids diagnosed with ADHD that appear to grow out of it in their teens,” says Burns.

Mitchell hopes he’s one of those kids.

“I think I might outgrow it,” says Mitchell.

”Yes, I’m thinking with our help we can overcome it and eventually get him off the medicine,” says Katherine.

Tips for Parents

Children with ADHD have impaired functioning in multiple settings, including home, school and relationships with peers. If untreated, the disorder can have long-term adverse effects into adolescence and adulthood. (National Institute of Mental Health, NIMH)

NIMH reports that symptoms of ADHD will appear over the course of many months, and include:

Impulsiveness: a child who acts quickly without thinking first.

Hyperactivity: a child who can't sit still; walks, runs or climbs around when others are seated; talks when others are talking.

Inattention: a child who daydreams or seems to be in another world, is sidetracked by what is going on around him or her.

If ADHD is suspected, the diagnosis should be made by a professional with training in ADHD.

This includes child psychiatrists, psychologists, developmental/behavioral pediatricians, behavioral neurologists, and clinical social workers. (NIMH)

For children with ADHD, no single treatment is the answer for every child. A child may sometimes have undesirable side effects to a medication that would make that particular treatment unacceptable. And if a child with ADHD also has anxiety or depression, a treatment combining medication and behavioral therapy might be best. Each child’s needs and personal history must be carefully considered. (NIMH)

Some people get better results from one medication, some from another. It is important to work with the prescribing physician to find the right medication and the right dosage for your child. For many people, the stimulants dramatically reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and improve their ability to focus, work and learn. The medications may also improve physical coordination, such as that needed in handwriting and in sports. (NIMH)

References

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Parents Universal Resource Experts (Sue Scheff) Anxious Teens, Depressed Teens

By Connect with Kids
Leave Me Alone!

We all know teenagers can be moody, impulsive and irritable – but how can parents tell if the tears will go away or if they're a sign of something more? When your teen slams the door and shouts "Leave me alone!" – should you? Will your child be safe? Or are there signs of depression, anxiety, even suicidal thoughts?

Every parent needs to know the warning signs – when life feels too heavy or too scary for your son or daughter to handle alone. Every parent needs to know what treatments are available and what works with kids. Every parent needs to watch Leave Me Alone!

You'll hear actual teenagers talk about their struggles, giving you insight into what your own child may be feeling. You'll learn practical parenting advice from child experts about what you can do to help your teen face the fears and alleviate the pain. And you'll hear the inspiration and hope of families whose children are living happier, healthier lives.

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Do you have a struggling teen? At risk teens? Defiant Teen? Teen Depression? Problem Teen? Difficult Teen? Teen Rage? Teen Anger? Teen Drug Use? Teen Gangs? Teen Runaways? Bipolar? ADD/ADHD? Disrespectful Teen? Out of Control Teen? Peer Pressure?


Find about more about Boarding Schools, Military Schools, Christian Boarding Schools, Residential Treatment Centers, and Therapeutic Boarding Schools.

Parents Universal Resource Experts (Sue Scheff) Teenage Depression

By Connect with Kids

Depression

The face of depression is getting younger. In a recent survey, 23% of young adults reported symptoms of serious depression before the age of 20—up from just 2% a generation ago. The reasons range from increased pressure in school to rising divorce rates among parents, experts say.

“My parents went through an awful divorce my ninth-grade year, and I was devastated,” says 18 year-old Brittany.

Parents often mis-interpret the signs of depression. Some kids may become lethargic and withdrawn, as expected, while others may show agitation, frustration and aggression. For school-aged children a drop in grades could also be an indicator. Unfortunately, it often provokes punishment rather than sympathy.

Psychologist Sunaina Jain says, “Rather than thinking of children’s misbehaviors as discipline problems or misbehaviors as deliberate, it’s important to see them as communication from the child. This is the child’s way of telling you how he or she is feeling”

Experts say that, given the new reality, a quarter of all kids will experience depression. Parents need to make sure they take a constant measure of their child’s emotional pulse.

What Parents Should Know

Emotional anchors are fewer and further between for many kids. In years past kids spent more time with parents, grandparents and neighbors than they do now, says USA Today.

Kids look to parents for emotional support and reassurance. With the amount of time parents and children spending together on a downward trend, many children are feeling alone—isolated.

In the past, when Mom and Dad weren’t around, grandparent or neighbors were likely to be at arms reach, but not anymore, studies say. Grandparents aren’t as accessible and families now move an average of every seven years, compared to every 21 years three decades ago. Adjusting to a new neighborhood every few years makes it more difficult to develop strong and lasting neighborly relations.

With the odds of smooth sailing being less and less for children, parents should be extra cautious of children’s emotional status. They need support. They need reassurance. They need an emotional anchor.

Sue Scheff: Teen Depression, Warning Signs

Common warning signs/symptoms of teenage depression

Changes in eating and sleeping habits (eating and sleeping too much or too little)
Significant change in weight (loss or gain)
Often misses school and/or shows bad school performance
Reclusive, withdrawing from friends or family members
Quick to show anger/rage
General restlessness or anxiety
Overreacts to criticism, even constructive
Seems very self conscious, guilty
Unusual problems with authority
No longer partakes in or enjoys activities and events they once loved
Indecision, lack of concentration, or forgetfulness
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Frequent health complaints despite being healthy
Lack of motivation and enthusiasm for every day life
Drug/alcohol abuse
Mentions or thoughts of suicide

Find more information on Teen Depression.
by Sue Scheff, Parents Universal Resource Experts

Sue Scheff: Surviving Teen Depression - A Relentless Hope by Dr. Gary Nelson

Watch this segment on "Surviving Teen Depression" by Dr. Gary Nelson. It gives you inspiration and hope if you are struggling with todays teens and depression.

Parents Universal Resource Experts (Sue Scheff): Smoking Pot and Lung Damage

By Connect with Kids

“This latest study shows that you have destruction of lung tissue, reduction of lung vital capacity and a decreased ability to exhale if you smoke marijuana. What’s probably the most disturbing part of this latest article is that it shows that a cigarette is really much less potent than a joint of marijuana.”

– Fadlo Khuri, M.D., oncologist

According to the latest Monitoring the Future report, more than 40 percent of 12-graders have experimented with marijuana. In fact, it is the most commonly-abused illegal drug. While parents, teachers and physicians have been warning kids about pot for years, new information shows it’s even more dangerous than we thought.

Andrew was 14 years old when he first tried pot.

“I didn’t even inhale it all the way, I just took it into my mouth, but I loved the taste. I knew that I liked it,” says Andrew Wolpa, 18.

From there he experimented with alcohol, painkillers, mushrooms and almost every drug -- except one.

“I never smoked cigarettes because those things will kill ya, you know,” says Wolpa.

But according to a study by the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, smoking one marijuana joint is equal to smoking five cigarettes at the same time.

“This latest study shows that you have destruction of lung tissue, reduction of lung vital capacity and a decreased ability to exhale if you smoke marijuana. What’s probably the most disturbing part of this latest article is that it shows that a cigarette is really much less potent than a joint of marijuana,” says Fadlo Khuri, M.D., oncologist.

And he says smoking pot can lead to emphysema and lung cancer.

“That’s a real problem because we only cure about 15 to 17 percent of all the people who present with lung cancer nowadays. So this is a disease in which you have a 1-in-6 chance of surviving it for five years or longer,” says Khuri.

Khuri says that talking about painful and serious diseases is one way to persuade kids not to use marijuana.

“Confronting them with the data, showing them what the outcomes are with lung cancer and emphysema, with what some individuals would consider even moderate marijuana or cigarette use,” says Khuri.

Andrew says even though he’s in rehab, he’s not ready to quit.

“I don’t want to be clean yet. I’m not there,” says Wolpa.

Tips for Parents

From the Nemours Foundation:

Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the United States. It is a dry, shredded green/brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves of the plant Cannabis Sativa. A stronger form of marijuana called hashish (hash) looks like brown or black cakes or balls. Street names for marijuana include pot, herb, weed, grass, Jane, reefer, dope, and ganja.

Marijuana is typically smoked in cigarettes (joints or spliffs), hollowed-out cigars (blunts), pipes (bowls), or water pipes (bongs). Some people mix it into food or brew it as a tea.

Marijuana is just as damaging to your lungs as cigarettes – and some reports show that it is even worse. Steady users suffer coughs, wheezing, frequent colds, and respiratory infections, such as bronchitis.

There are more than 400 known chemicals in marijuana. A single joint contains four times as much cancer-causing tar as a filtered cigarette. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

References

Nemours Foundation
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

(Sue Scheff) Teen Depression: Try Therapy, Switch Medication

Two-Pronged Approach Helps Adolescents Who Don’t Respond to Initial Antidepressant Alone

By Kathleen Doheny
WebMD Medical News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Feb. 26, 2008 -- Depressed teens who don't respond well to the first antidepressantmedication they are prescribed do improve if they are switched to a different antidepressant medication and also offered "talk" therapy, according to a new study.

The combination -- switching medications and offering talk therapy -- works better than simply changing medications, the researchers found, although switching medications alone also offers improvement.

"This validates our clinical hunch about what to do with these kids," says study researcher David Brent, MD, professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. "Which is, if the medicine isn't working, switch it, and if they aren't getting cognitive behavioral therapy (talk therapy), you should add it."

About 40% of teens with clinical depression don't respond well when treated initially with commonly prescribed antidepressants known as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), experts say. How to help these adolescents has been an ongoing challenge. Results of the new study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, are expected to offer important guidance.

Depressed Teens Study: Four Options
From 2000 to 2006, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and five other universities and clinics nationwide evaluated 334 clinically depressed teens, aged 12 to 18, who had not responded to a two-month initial treatment with an SSRI antidepressant. They assigned the teens to one of four groups for 12 weeks.

One group was switched to another SSRI antidepressant, such as Paxil, Celexa, or Prozac. Another group was switched to a different SSRI antidepressant than they took initially, plus given talk therapy. A third group was switched to the antidepressant Effexor, which is known as an SNRI (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor). The fourth group got Effexor plus talk therapy.

Effexor was selected, Brent says, because "at the time we designed the study there were studies in adults that found Effexor was more effective for difficult-to-treat depression." The teens studied had been clinically depressed for two years, Brent says.

Up to 12 sessions of talk therapy were offered during the study, and some sessions included family members.

The researchers evaluated improvements in depression with commonly used scales and interview questions.

Study Results
Teens switched to another medication -- either an SSRI or Effexor -- plus talk therapy improved more than those just switched to another medication. Nearly 55% of those given talk therapy and a new medication showed improvement in their depression, but improvement was seen in just 40.5% of those whose medication was switched but who did not get talk therapy.

No substantial differences were found between the two types of antidepressants. Overall, 47% of those on an SSRI improved while 48.2% of those on Effexor did.

Teens who were also on sleep medications, either prescription or over-the-counter, did not do as well as those not taking such medications, Brent says, but the reason is not clear.

The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.

Message for Depressed Teens
For parents and teens, the advice is clear about what to do if the initial medication doesn't work, says Joan Rosenbaum Asarnow, PhD, professor of psychiatry at the University of California Los Angeles and a study researcher. "They should not only consider switching therapy but consider getting their child into cognitive behavioral therapy," she says. "The real finding here is that combining medication with cognitive behavioral therapy is what makes the difference in outcome."

"The most important advice is don't give up," adds Brent. "Even in the kids who only got a medication switch, 40% of them responded."

'Encouraging' Findings
Other experts not involved in the study say the findings are encouraging for tough cases. The good news is that over time the majority of adolescents can and do respond to a combination of interventions, says David Fassler, MD, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Vermont, Burlington. "The study underscores the importance of altering or modifying treatment based on an ongoing assessment of clinical response."

"This study confirms some things we already know," says Nada Stotland, MD, president-elect of the American Psychiatric Association and professor of psychiatry at Rush Medical College in Chicago. "And that is that many people need to try more than one antidepressant before they find the one that works, and that as a whole, no antidepressant is better than another for a whole population, but for individual persons, one is clearly better than another." The study also confirms the value of talk therapy, she says, which may be enough for mild cases of depression.

Early Dating/Early Sexualy Activity (Can this add to Teen Depression?)

First Comes Love

Will you be ready when your son has his first girlfriend? When your daughter has her first boyfriend? Will you be able to help them with the peer pressure to have sex? Will you be ready to address the warning signs of dating violence?

These are difficult topics for parents and kids to talk about together... First Comes Love helps you start the conversation. The program features real kids sharing their true dating stories – and suddenly the pressure is off of your children as you talk about the kids in the program. That, says experts, opens the door for communication and learning. The program also features advice from health experts and child specialists about the best way to protect children from the “dark side of teenage love.”

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Connect with Kids is a wealth of information for parents. I refer parents to them daily and I am always impressed with their valuable new weekly parenting articles and DVD’s. In today’s world of teenagers - parents need to be a step ahead!

Do you have a struggling teen? At risk teens? Defiant Teen? Teen Depression? Problem Teen? Difficult Teen? Teen Rage? Teen Anger? Teen Drug Use? Teen Gangs? Teen Runaways? Bipolar? ADD/ADHD? Disrespectful Teen? Out of Control Teen? Peer Pressure?

Find about more about Boarding Schools, Military Schools, Christian Boarding Schools, Residential Treatment Centers, and Therapeutic Boarding Schools.