DRUG USE PREVENTION
Summertime Associated with Highest Risk for Teen Drug Use
New research has found that teens are most likely to use drugs for the first time during summer. Parents need to be aware of the unique factors and conditions that put teens at higher risk of drug experimentation during this season, so they can intervene and educate teen sons and daughters before they experiment with mind-altering substances.
Law Enforcement Shifts Tactics as Dark Web Becomes the New Marketplace for Drug Trafficking
In May 2023, a multinational effort by U.S. and European law enforcement officials led to nearly 300 drug traffickers being arrested in several countries and $53 million in contraband being seized.
Prescription Drug Take Back Day Provides Opportunity to Make Homes Safer
One of the most common ways young people experiment with prescription drugs for the first time is by finding the drugs in the family medicine cabinet and consuming them. Parents might not think there’s any harm in keeping certain pharmaceuticals in the home, but in light of the American opioid epidemic – which was partly started by the abuse of prescription painkillers – parents must recognize the risk of keeping unused medication in the home. Parents should dispose of unused medications during the upcoming Prescription Drug Take Back Day event.
Talk to Young People About Drugs and Alcohol
With new findings suggesting drug use is more dangerous for youths now than ever before, parents must do everything possible to prevent their kids from experimenting with mind-altering substances. This effort begins by having conversations with kids, and by helping them understand why they should avoid using drugs.
The Importance of Talking to Kids About Drugs
There are now more street drugs than ever, and people are dying from drugs and alcohol at unprecedented rates, so it is more important than ever that parents educate themselves on this subject.
Discovering What You Can Do to Prevent Addiction in Your Community
While the American family is best positioned for helping an addicted family member get help with a drug problem, one could safely say that it’s the local communities that are best positioned for preventing drug addiction from becoming a problem in the first place. What can community members do to keep their homes and neighbors safe from drug abuse?
Opioids and Virtual Street Corners – How Drugs are Illegally Purchased in the 21st-Century
A recent study revealed the scope of online drug sales, particularly as pertains to opioids. Unfortunately, this problem has gotten much worse than most experts initially believed.
Prevention Is The One Thing We Can Agree On—It's Still Not Happening
In my ongoing research, I came across Dr. Nora Volkow’s June 27, 2019 blog post at the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Dr. Volkow is the director of NIDA, which itself is a part of the National Institutes of Health.