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

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...

 Is Your Smart Teen Stuck in Anxiety? It’s no secret, 2020 has been tough to get through. The pressures that the ongoing pandemic have placed on all of us have been challenging, especially for students who have had to adapt to online learning overnight. If you’re a student in this strange time, it can be extremely difficult to find the motivation to get up and tune in to class while the world is in a moment of crisis. While the pandemic continues, it’s important to prioritize your mental health in tandem with your daily tasks. And even when school does return to an in-person setting, you want to maintain a robust practice of keeping your psychological and emotional wellbeing in check. So how can you stay on top of your anxiety when studies are too demanding or overwhelming? We’ve got some tips to help you get through this difficult time with a list of activities and practices to check in with yourself. Here’s some ways students can mitigate the effects of anxiety: 1. Normalize Chec...