The Blog of P.U.R.E. and Sue Scheff

Teen Drug Use How do I know if my teen is using drugs? In today's society, kids have access to many different substances that can be addictive and damaging. Drug testing is helpful, but not always accurate.   Teen substance abuse can escalate to addiction.   P.U.R.E.™ receives many phone calls from parents who say that their child is only smoking pot. Unfortunately in most cases, marijuana can lead to more severe drugs and, with the exception of a few states, it is an illegal drug.  Smoking marijuana is damaging to the child's body, brain, and behavior. Even though marijuana is not considered a narcotic, teens may become hooked. Many teens who are on prescribed medications such as Ritalin, Adderall , Strattera, Concerta, Zoloft, Prozac and other prescription drugs -  are more at risk when mixing these medications with street drugs.   It is critical you speak with your child about this and learn all the side effects. Educating your child on potential h...

Warning signs your teen might be using drugs or drinking This is a difficult question that many parents have to face on a daily basis.   Parents who spend a great deal of time with their teenagers are often tuned into what is normal behavior and what is not.   However, even parents who are actively involved in the daily activities of their teenagers may overlook – or subconsciously deny – the earliest signs of a substance abuse problem.   Some of the clues that your teenager may exhibit when using drugs or alcohol are fairly subtle, but others are rather obvious:  Many hours spent alone, especially in their room; persistent isolation from the rest of the family.   This is particular suspicious in a youngster who had not been a loner until now.  Resistance to taking with or confiding in parents, secretiveness, especially in a teenager who had previously been open.   Be sure that your teenager is not being secretive because every time he tries to c...

Parents can be naive when it comes to their teen using marijuana today.  The fact is, it's not the marijuana from generations earlier.  Yes, it is legalized today and there are valid reasons for this, however there are still studies and reasons that the drug use for minors can potentially cause them harm. More importantly, it can lead to different types of drug experimentation which are more risky and even potentially deadly.  It's no different with pills. Share this video with your friends and family. How is marijuana likely to affect you? Learning:  Marijuana’s effects on attention and memory make it difficult to learn something new or do complex tasks that require focus and concentration.  Sports:  Marijuana affects timing, movement, and coordination, which can harm athletic performance.  Judgment:  Marijuana, like most abused substances, can alter judgment. This can lead to risky behaviors that can expose the user to sexually...

As we are in the summer months it can lead to more time for experimentation of substances.  Maybe your teen wants to fit in with a different peer group or maybe they have been using drugs and want to try new ones. It is important for parents not to be in denial.  The best of kids can make bad decisions.  Think of your own childhood - we all learn from mistakes.  Sadly today drugs are much more dangerous and deadly than they were generations earlier. 10 Tips for Prevention and Awareness of Drug Use: 1.   Communication is the key to prevention . Whenever an opportunity to talk about the risks of drinking and driving or the dangers of using drugs presents itself, take it and start a conversation. 2.   Have a conversation not a confrontation . If you suspect your teen is using drugs, talk to her. Don't judge her; instead, talk to her about facts behind the dangers of substance abuse. If your teen isn't opening up to you, be sure you find an adolescen...

There was a day you gave birth to a child that you believed was your heart and soul and you would protect that child from all the bad things in this world.   From infancy to toddler to elementary school and hanging that beautiful finger painting artwork up on your refrigerator door, the joy and pride of parenthood kept growing. Then we start the tweenage era.   That middle-school itch.   The peer pressure, the "where do I belong" and "who will be my friend" in the lunchroom.   Today life growing up from a child to a tween to a teen is escalated by technology of the digital access that kids have today.   It is like they are growing up in the Jetson generation only hundred times faster.   It is advised that parents should have the "tech talk" with their kids even before the "sex talk."   That is a strong indicator of the importance of how cyber-life has taken over our lives--both young and old. Drug dealers have figured this ou...

"Out of Reach" is a special documentary created by a teen filmmaker who captures the issue of teen prescription drug abuse as it exists in his world. The issues contained in the film are a reflection of this issue across the country. It was created in collaboration with director Tucker Capps (of A&E's "Intervention") and The Partnership at Drugfree.org 's Medicine Abuse Project. With the holiday's around the corner, it is imperative that parents not only know what is in their medicine cabinets, but also be aware of what their parents (grandparents) have in their homes.  As you visit relatives and friends this holiday season, it can also be an opportunity for your teen/tween to scout out a variety of bathrooms and medicine cabinets. Be an educated parent - you will have safer and healthier kids. Learn more from The Medicine Abuse Project .

Many parents call us all the time with two scenarios. 1)  My teen refuses to go to a therapist or counselor or 2)  My teen has been in therapy for years and it hasn't made a difference.  Even has changed therapist several times and nothing changes. So why will residential treatment make a difference? Fact is, we don't have a crystal ball but there is definitely a difference.  The one-on-one therapy once a week at home (in a doctor's office) is completely different than being in a therapeutic setting where all your child's activity is geared towards building him up to make better choices and also helping him to reflect on why he was making the negative ones that brought him to where he is now. Removing your teen from their comfort zone of home and mostly of their peer group can substantially change the way they think and react to situations.  You can finally peel back the layer they have to protect their egos (attitudes) and determine where all this...

It may start with pot, but where will it end? With the recent tragedy of Corey Monteith it leaves the door open for conversation. You may have a teen that is smoking pot.  I speak to many parents that believe that "it is only marijuana."  Maybe that is true, but have they considered what happens when their highly intelligent (because they also share with me how smart their teenager is) teen decides to maybe try some pills or alcohol with it? What is addiction? Addiction has long been understood to mean an uncontrollable habit of using alcohol or other drugs. Because of the physical effects of these substances on the body, and particularly the brain, people have often thought that “real” addictions only happen when people regularly use these substances in large amounts. Addiction – there is a psychological/physical component; the person is unable to control the aspects of the addiction without help because of the mental or physical conditions involved. – ...

Summer is coming and teens will have more free time on their hands.  Parents need to learn as much as they can about over the counter (OTC) medicine abuse, it is just as risky and dangerous as street drugs. What can you do? We can all play a role in ending medicine abuse.  By working together, parents and grandparents, health care providers,  community leaders and educators can truly make a difference. Here are 7 things you can do to help: 1. Take The Pledge. Visit http://www.medicineabuseproject.org 2. Safeguard Your Medicine. Keep prescription medicine in a secure place , count and monitor the number of pills you have and lock up your medicine. 3. Dispose Properly of Your Unused Medicine.   Learn how to safely dispose of medicine at home — and find a medicine take-back site near you. 4. Educate Yourself. Find helpful resources for Parents & Grandparents , Health Care Providers , Communities & Law Enforcement ...

What does this say to parents of teenagers?    Are the parents too trusting of the teens or are the teens too smart for the parents? Are you still digesting that?    Let's understand this. One in four teens (24 percent) reports having misused or abused a prescription drug at least once in their lifetime (up from 18 percent in 2008 to 24 percent in 2012), which translates to about 5 million teens. That is a 33 percent increase over a five-year period.   -According to Drugfree.org That is a lot teens using illegal prescription drugs to get high or alter their moods.  Where are they getting these drugs from?   Parents, grandparents, a friend's home or simply buying them off the street.    This isn't   blame game it is time to get a grasp on it and communicate to your kids about the risks of prescription medicine when it is not taken for the reasons it is prescribed for by a doctor.   Sometimes it takes a ne...