If you suspect your child is using drugs, it is usually because there are indicators that something is off. You may notice their grades are slipping, they are becoming more secretive, their behavior is worsening, or they are hanging out with the wrong crowd. They may be taking money from you, their physical appearance may be changing drastically, or maybe you have found concrete evidence of … [Read more...]
How to Tell if Someone is on Drugs by Their Eyes
If your child is experimenting with drugs or alcohol, they may be able to hide some of the signs from you, but their eyes can often reveal what they are doing. Substance use can have numerous effects on the eyes that cannot be easily concealed. From the size of their pupils to redness, their eyes can reveal what substances they may be using. Because drugs and alcohol affect neurotransmitters in … [Read more...]
Learn Street Names For Opiates To Help Determine If Your Child Is Using
Most people are familiar with the name of prescription drugs, but many of these medications have generic names, street names, and slang terms that are used to refer to them or how they are used. With all of these varying names, it can be difficult to know what your child may be using. Identifying what your child is using is key in understanding how to move forward with treatment options. … [Read more...]
Methadone Withdrawal Symptoms
Opioid addiction often requires medication-assisted treatment in order to improve the success of withdrawal and jump-start the recovery process. Methadone is one of several medications available that can help people stop using opiates. However, it also has its own addiction risks, problems, and withdrawal symptoms. Methadone is an opioid itself, but it works by reducing physical withdrawal … [Read more...]
For Parents: How to Cope with Guilt & Shame About Your Child’s Addiction
In many ways, a parent’s actions can have a profound impact on a child’s development and who they ultimately become as they grow older, but not everything is inherently in a parent’s hands. Raising a child in itself can be a guilt-rendering experience. From even early years, parents may struggle with feeling guilt over their child’s struggles. If they fall and hurt themselves or if they struggle … [Read more...]
Signs Your Child is Smoking Pot
Marijuana is often one of the first substances a person experiments with. Weed is one of the most accessible drugs today and with a changing legal status, the drug is easier to acquire than ever before. Like any substance, use of weed has the potential to lead to dependency and addiction. While many discussions about marijuana use intend to paint a positive picture, marijuana largely remains a … [Read more...]
How to Hire a Professional Interventionist for Your Child
When your child’s addiction is spiraling out of control, an intervention may be the next best step to take in getting your child to accept the help they need. If you have determined that an intervention is right for your child, knowing where to start may be difficult. After all, there are countless resources available – it can be difficult to determine who or what is best for your child’s care. … [Read more...]
Lawsuits Against Purdue Pharma
Pharmaceutical companies are beginning to experience backlash amid skyrocketing rates of opioid abuse across the country. Purdue Pharma, one of the best-known companies in the prescription painkiller market, has recently announced they would stop marketing opioid medication to doctors. This move comes in response to numerous lawsuits putting blame on the company for contributing to the current … [Read more...]
Destigmatizing Substance Abuse
The discussion around substance abuse has always been polarizing. While many fight to change the conversation into a dialogue about the way in which addiction is a disease, many still believe that substance abuse is a moral choice. This belief stems from a misunderstanding about the way in which substance abuse changes the way the mind and body function. Rather than understanding the crippling … [Read more...]