We hear it all the time. Parents tell us, “This addiction and mental health material is extremely important to know as a community member and parent. We are all grateful for the prevention effort. It will help identify people in my family or community who may be struggling. But of course, I’m not worried about my son. He has his head on straight.” How could their child ever really

Addiction is a Disease/Disorder It is vital to understand that addiction is a disorder and a disease. The identification of addiction as a medical condition by well-respected medical institutions has greatly aided the treatment of addiction; however, this is extremely hard to acknowledge when feeling concerned for a loved one. Dealing with at-risk loved ones engaging in self-destru

Looking back at my childhood, it is hard to imagine what more my parents could have done to improve my resilience. My parent's love and care equipped me with the tools I needed to navigate the world with ease. They instilled in me the importance of good values and provided compelling reasons to stay away from the perils of drugs. My older brothers set an example, surrounding themse

The confusion in the eyes of these children is hard to comprehend. While the prevention message may be enlightening and informative for most students, some are faced with a much harsher truth - one that pertains not just to their friends or public figures but to their parents. For the average student, understanding the course of addiction is a valuable learning experience, shedding

Early detection is the essential and primary focus for the prevention of drug addiction. It is the most important factor in the treatment of addiction in our society. While there is a massive billion-dollar effort to improve, research, and develop treatment programming for individuals with substance use disorders, the reality remains that addiction is an unthinkably difficult disea

The Secret Password: Help I struggled with depression and anxiety for years. I didn’t have a name or category for my condition. I often felt overwhelmed and isolated. In 3rd grade, I couldn't focus in class, I began losing my belongings frequently, and I started acting out in settings where I was expected to sit down and focus. In search of a reality that felt better than the one i

Students frequently approach after our presentations to ask for help with peer pressure, mental health, or addiction. About half of these students admit that they have never discussed their issue with anybody before. They have struggled and suffered in silence. They are spontaneously ready to open up to a stranger after a presentation during their P.E. class but have long been unwi

What is a drug addict? I’d like to begin this blog with a little exercise. To start, bring to mind the image of a drug addict. Remember that image. What do you see? Is it a famous musician who died from an overdose? Is it a homeless person? Maybe it’s a tv show character who turned their life upside down. Is the individual in your mind’s eye missing teeth? Are their clothes wrinkle

“Why did you do drugs?” Some version of this simple thought-provoking question frequently finds its way into the question section of my presentation. I’m forced to do a double-take. I just answered that question. I explained what led me to drug use and what drug use led to; that is the essential outline of my story. Yet I need to answer this question again, this time in only a coup

Three months ago, I mentioned in passing at the office that I was working on getting my little brother into a better school. My brother is from the Big Brother Big Sister program. I mentioned this without any expectations that my coworkers would spend time and effort helping me. This was unrelated to the work we did for LSIS. Their response exemplifies the character of the people I