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

Help Stop Teen Cough Medicine Abuse    Talking to teens about drug abuse is never easy. Did you know teens that learn about the dangers of drugs from their parents are 50 percent less likely to abuse drugs? As parents, we must work together to educate our teens and create awareness about the dangers of substance abuse, including over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine abuse. In 2007, five moms from around the country were brought together to share information with other parents about the largely unknown trend among teens of abusing OTC cough medicines to get high. Since then, the Five Moms campaign has reached more than 24 million parents to help educate them about preventing teen cough medicine abuse, spreading awareness to parents, schools, and communities. And now they want your help! The campaign recently launched the Are You the Next Five Mom? search to look for a new Mom to join the fight against cough medicine abuse. Are you a mom who is passionate a...

Be an educated parent. Nine out of 10 Americans who meet the medical criteria for addiction¹ started smoking, drinking, or using other drugs before age 18, according to a national study released today by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.   Adolescent Substance Use: America’s #1 Public Health Problem reveals that adolescence is the critical period for the initiation of substance use and its consequences. The CASA report finds 1 in 4 Americans who began using any addictive substance before age 18 are addicted, compared to 1 in 25 Americans who started using at age 21 or older.   The CASA report reveals that: 75 percent (10 million) of all high school students have used addictive substances including tobacco, alcohol, marijuana or cocaine; 1 in 5 of them meets the medical criteria for addiction. 46 percent (6.1 million) of all high school students currently use addictive substances; 1 in 3 of them meets the medi...

Addiction: Dangerous and deadly The tragic loss of Amy Winehouse has robbed us of a young, if fatally troubled, life cut down in its prime. It has also cheated music of a talent, at 27, whose best years surely still lay ahead. For the past few years, it often seemed to be a question of when, not if, her drug and alcohol addictions would push her body beyond its limits. Her fans willed her to beat her demons and get well, but in the end, the demons won. What demons are we speaking about?  No, not Satan, but substance abuse . Many parents will overlook their teen only smoking pot, or just drinking alittle, but in reality your denial is only harming your teenager. Before becoming an addict, it start with just a joint - maybe just a shot of vodka, but where it ends up, no one knows. Let this tragedy be a time to open the door to communication with your teen.  Talk about the dangers of drug use, drinking and other negative behaviors. Tips to help prevent t...

Mental illness continues to mystify the mainstream, and students already stressed and anxious about classes, relationships, jobs and activities end up suffering from the stigmas just as much as the conditions themselves. But they don’t have to nurture their pain in quiet. More and more individuals (students or not), their loved ones and organizations are speaking up in favor of psychological help in all its forms. The following list represents some of the most common conditions occurring on campuses globally, though by no means should it be considered a comprehensive glimpse at an issue far more broad and complex. Clinical Depression : At least 44% of college students have reported suffering from some degree of clinical depression — and the number only escalates from there as years tick past. Thanks to prevailing social stigmas regarding psychiatric help, only 23% of victims reported that they’d be comfortable discussing their treatment. Considering the amount of s...

Join me on Twitter and FB Do you think there are more parents on Facebook or Twitter? Now, if I had to guess, I would say that more parents are active on Facebook than Twitter. Just going by the numbers, Facebook has over 750 million subscribers. I know that as a parent, I spend more time on Facebook. However, I have found that Twitter is a great source for all types of connections and resources. Just like anything on the internet there is a lot to sort through to get to the good stuff. That is why I wanted to write this post and share with you some of the best parenting experts that I have found on Twitter. Of course, these folks have websites and Facebook pages too, if you don’t hang out on Twitter. I will post those links as well. 1. Brian R. King, LCSW – @brianrking Brian is a fantastic resource for families and children on the autism spectrum. He is an adult on the autism spectrum and is also the father of three sons on the autism spectrum. He has a unique and pow...

Over a decade of helping families. It's summer and for parents of teenagers it can be a time of consideration. What will your teen be doing this summer?  Have you arranged for a summer camps?  Community service hours? Volunteering? Or simply hanging out? Parenting today's teenagers is a challenge.  Whether it is keeping up with technology or worrying about substance abuse, being a parent today is not an easy job. If you suspect your teen is using drugs, drinking or engaging in any negative behavior, don't be a parent in denial .  Get the help they may need.  It could be as you need a adolescent therapist or you may need to take the next step of residential therapy.  Either way, you need to be proactive. Parents' Universal Resource Experts (P.U.R.E.) has over a decade of assisting families with troubled teens , and continues to expand.  Join us on Facebook today. Teens that are struggling with today's peer pressure , experimenting...

Drinking & Driving, never a good mix. This time of year often comes with an increase in free time and a decrease in adult supervision. As your child becomes more and more curious about alcohol, he or she may turn to you for answers and advice. Use this opportunity to start an open, honest conversation about drinking. Since some questions can be difficult to answer, it's important to be prepared. Q)  I got invited to a party, can I go? A)  Ask your child if an adult will be present at the party, or if he or she thinks children will be drinking. Remind your child that even just being at a party where underage people are drinking can get them in trouble. Use this time to establish or reinforce your rules about alcohol, and what behavior you expect. Q)  Why do you drink? A)  Explain to your child your reasons for drinking – whether it's to enhance a meal, share good times with friends, or celebrate a special occasion. Point out that if you choose ...