A Candid Conversation about Drugs, Alcohol and Addiction

How do you deal with it when other parents are promoting this behavior?

How to talk to kids about adults who use drugs and abuse alcohol would be very helpful. Many families have relatives or children have parents who have these addictions and it’s difficult to know how and when to talk about these things. For example, a couple years ago a mother of a student at Bradford Woods Elementary died of a drug overdose. My children were in class and rode the bus with her son and it was a difficult subject for young ears and minds to understand. Thank you very much for this helpful resource for our community!

One very powerful addictive substance that is largely overlooked in America’s school systems is sugar. High levels of sugar in the bloodstream leads to leptin suppression which keeps people from feeling full, and creates dopamine downregulation in the same ways, even more powerfully than, cocaine, pot and morphine. And yet our school cafeterias, school fundraisers and school sponsored events are full of sugary drinks and food. Our schools are contributing to the obesity crisis, and it has been documented that many people who struggle with food addiction turn to other addictive substances to try and curb their cravings.

Should a teen who has been using substances but also has mental health issues receive SUD treatment first and then go into MH tx or do you think they can participate in these 2 services simultaneously?

Do you have good resources for telehealth SUD tx?

Are LGTBQ+ teens more at risk for SUD than other populations of students? What are the best indicators of successful recovery from SUD in teens?