News

Synthetic Pot Suspected in Kidney Failures

Source: ABC News | Posted on February 14, 2013

Spice. K2. Herbal incense. You’ve heard the names, and now these drugs known as synthetic marijuana have been implicated in acute kidney damage. A new report from the  U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention links the so-called designer drugs to 16 cases of unexplained kidney failure.

Spice. K2. Herbal incense. You’ve heard the names, and now these drugs known as synthetic marijuana have been implicated in acute kidney damage. A new report from the  U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention links the so-called designer drugs to 16 cases of unexplained kidney failure.

« hide description

Experts Encourage Parents to Discuss Synthetic Marijuana With Kids

Source: KSAT | Posted on February 14, 2013

On Tuesday, San Antonio narcotics officers seized nearly $500,000 worth of possible synthetic marijuana from a gas station on the city’s northwest side. Officials said the haul is evidence of how prevalent the synthetic drug is in San Antonio. Experts in substance abuse are encouraging parents to speak to their… continue reading »

On Tuesday, San Antonio narcotics officers seized nearly $500,000 worth of possible synthetic marijuana from a gas station on the city’s northwest side. Officials said the haul is evidence of how prevalent the synthetic drug is in San Antonio. Experts in substance abuse are encouraging parents to speak to their teenagers about the dangerous product.

« hide description

Legalizing Pot Won’t Make It Any Safer: Forgotten in the debate is the damage marijuana does to adolescent brains

Source: Wall Street Journal | Posted on January 18, 2013

Pot is not legal—at least not yet. But it’s not exactly illegal either—not anymore. More than a dozen states have decriminalized the possession of marijuana. Nearly a score of them sanction its medical use. Voters in Washington and Colorado have made recreational use of the drug legal in their states…. continue reading »

Pot is not legal—at least not yet. But it’s not exactly illegal either—not anymore. More than a dozen states have decriminalized the possession of marijuana. Nearly a score of them sanction its medical use. Voters in Washington and Colorado have made recreational use of the drug legal in their states. One way or another, all of these changes mean that there will be more marijuana in homes for young people to find and use. Granny may be smoking it for glaucoma, but there is nothing benign about the effects of pot on a juvenile brain. Whatever its legal status, pot is not harmless.

« hide description

Pot Use-Low IQ Link Challenged in Study

Source: U.S. News & World Report | Posted on January 15, 2013

A new analysis challenges previous research that suggested teens put their long-term brainpower in danger when they smoke marijuana heavily. Instead, the analysis indicated that the earlier findings could have been thrown off by another factor — the effect of poverty on IQ.

A new analysis challenges previous research that suggested teens put their long-term brainpower in danger when they smoke marijuana heavily. Instead, the analysis indicated that the earlier findings could have been thrown off by another factor — the effect of poverty on IQ.

« hide description

» View more News

Helpful Links

Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator – sponsored by SAMHSA

Posted on February 2, 2010

Looking for drug treatment programs and alcohol abuse treatment programs? Find the right drug abuse treatment program or alcohol abuse treatment program with the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Looking for drug treatment programs and alcohol abuse treatment programs? Find the right drug abuse treatment program or alcohol abuse treatment program with the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

« hide description

The Texas Youth Commission – A World of Prevention

Posted on February 2, 2010

A World of Prevention is a searchable directory of resources dedicated to the prevention of child and adolescent problems and the promotion of youth development in families, schools and communities. A World of Prevention offers links to online resources, including the best available prevention material, programs, research reports, articles and… continue reading »

A World of Prevention is a searchable directory of resources dedicated to the prevention of child and adolescent problems and the promotion of youth development in families, schools and communities. A World of Prevention offers links to online resources, including the best available prevention material, programs, research reports, articles and books.

« hide description

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information

Posted on February 2, 2010

The SAMHSA Health Information Network (SHIN) includes the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) and the National Mental Health Information Center (NMHIC). SHIN connects the behavioral health workforce and the general public to the latest information on the prevention and treatment of mental and substance use disorders.

The SAMHSA Health Information Network (SHIN) includes the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) and the National Mental Health Information Center (NMHIC). SHIN connects the behavioral health workforce and the general public to the latest information on the prevention and treatment of mental and substance use disorders.

« hide description

Marijuana – Facts Parents Need to Know

Posted on February 2, 2010

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is pleased to offer these two short booklets, Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know and Marijuana: Facts for Teens, for parents and their children to review the scientific facts about marijuana. Although it is best to talk about drugs when children are young, it is… continue reading »

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is pleased to offer these two short booklets, Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know and Marijuana: Facts for Teens, for parents and their children to review the scientific facts about marijuana. Although it is best to talk about drugs when children are young, it is never too late to talk about the dangers of drug use.

« hide description

» View more helpful links

Programs

Time To Act – An Intervention Guide

Time To Act – An Intervention Guide

Time To Act! helps parents who suspect or know their teen is experimenting with alcohol or drugs take the next steps to help their child.

Time to Talk

Time to Talk

Kids who report learning a lot about the risks of drugs from their parents are up to 50% less likely to use. Time To Talk helps parents have frequent, positive conversations with their children.

The Parent Toolkit

The Parent Toolkit

Advice by age—from preschool to college age kids—to help parents connect, protect, or take action if teens are using drugs or drinking.

» View more Programs

Resources

The Partnership at Drugfree.org Attitude Tracking Study: 2011 Parents and Teens Full Report

Posted on May 2, 2012

On May 2, 2012 The Partnership at Drugfree.org released their 2011 Attitude Tracking Study. New data from the study show that marijuana use is becoming a more acceptable behavior among teens and heavy marijuana use is now at disturbingly high levels. Abuse of prescription medicine remains high but may be plateauing…. continue reading »

On May 2, 2012 The Partnership at Drugfree.org released their 2011 Attitude Tracking Study. New data from the study show that marijuana use is becoming a more acceptable behavior among teens and heavy marijuana use is now at disturbingly high levels. Abuse of prescription medicine remains high but may be plateauing. However, parents do not appear to be contributing to this decline. They are not more likely to communicate the risks of prescription medicine abuse to their kids, they are not safeguarding medicines, and they are increasingly misusing or abusing prescription medications themselves. Fifty-two percent of Hispanic youth report using illicit drugs in the past year (vs. 42 percent for African-American youth and 40 percent for Caucasian teens). They are also more likely than other teens to have used prescription medicine, Ecstasy or cocaine/crack to get high.

« hide description

Download (English)

Chart of Commonly Abused Drugs

Posted on March 3, 2010

Learn the facts to keep your teen safe. This guide/chart contains images, formal names and slang, how it is used, the dangers, signs of abuse and what you should know to keep your child safe.

Learn the facts to keep your teen safe. This guide/chart contains images, formal names and slang, how it is used, the dangers, signs of abuse and what you should know to keep your child safe.

« hide description

Download (English)

Treatment eBook – How to find the right help for your child with an alcohol or drug problem

Posted on February 16, 2010

Featured Content: What is substance abuse treatment? How do I find the right treatment for my child? How do I pay for treatment? How do I get my child to start treatment? What can I do to cope better?

Featured Content:

  • What is substance abuse treatment?
  • How do I find the right treatment for my child?
  • How do I pay for treatment?
  • How do I get my child to start treatment?
  • What can I do to cope better?

« hide description

Download (English)

» View more Resources

Return to top of page