Each day an average of 12 young people commit suicide in the United States, leaving behind devastated family and friends. Most youth show clear signs of their intention to attempt suicide, but too often those signs go unnoticed, or loved ones don’t know how to respond. “It’s easy to miss…
Michael Parker* asked his doctor to prescribe medical marijuana for his back pain. At first, he smoked only a couple times a week and sold the extra to friends. With each passing month, his drug use escalated and soon he was smoking several times a day. The 19-year-old eventually dropped…
It’s everywhere – at family birthdays and holiday parties, at sporting events, and at dinner tables across the country. Society’s message is clear – alcohol is safe, affordable and socially acceptable. Given its widespread use, it’s not surprising that alcohol is the most popular drug among middle school and high…
With the U.S. divorce rate hovering at 50 percent, it’s not surprising that the blended family is the most prevalent type in America. A blended family refers to a husband and wife bringing their own biological children into a new marriage (remember the Brady Bunch?) or a single person marrying…
Each year more than one million children experience the emotional trauma of divorce. Half of all marriages in the U.S. end in divorce, often leaving kids feeling dejected, angry or fearful of their future. “We know from research that divorce is so enormously stressful. It’s second only to death of…