When we long for the carefree days of our teen years, we conveniently forget how stressful those years could be. Studying, extracurricular activities and part-time jobs can leave teens more stressed-out than parents may realize. There are also the social stresses of...
College drinking and drugs more common than many parents realize
If you think your son or daughter is not going to experiment with drugs and alcohol in college – if they haven’t already in high school – you may want to think again.The numbers simply speak for themselves. According to the American College Health Association, , close...
Keeping your teen out of trouble during prom, graduation season
If you have a teen in your house, you probably know this time of year as prom (and maybe graduation) season. Both events come with all-night parties and lots of access to alcohol.Parents of teens already have reason to be nervous when their kids get behind the wheel...
Teen attitudes about drinking are changing
Parents of Maryland teens may find some relief in a study released last year about teens and alcohol. According to the study, which appeared in a journal called Child Development, the percentage of teens who say they've tried alcohol has dropped from 93 percent to 67...
How parents can keep their kids safe amid graduation parties
If you're the parent of a teen, you likely are nervous about one thing or another year-round. Memorial Day is known as the beginning of the "100 deadliest days for teens" on the road. However, if you have a teen graduating from high school this year, it may be...
Summer brings first-time alcohol use for many teens
Most parents of teens want their kids to have some free time during the summer. Even if they have a job, summer is a time to enjoy the beach, walk around the harbor or just hang out with their friends and play video games. However, with this free time often comes the...
When college partying takes a wrong turn
College itself is a freeing experience, especially for those living either in the dorms, in a house or apartment with friends or at a fraternity or sorority house. After 18 years of living under the same roof with mom and dad, you can finally do what you want: stay up...
Loved one struggling with addiction? You are not alone.
We live in world where everyone knows someone who is struggling with drug addiction. Even sadder to say, we all probably know someone who has even lost their life due to an addiction. Whether it’s a friend or family member – we are in the midst of an epidemic here in...
Revamped D.A.R.E. program comes to Maryland schools
A program that many Maryland parents participated in in middle school and perhaps earlier is getting a reboot in Anne Arundel County. The D.A.R.E. program was a staple of school curriculum from the 1980s (in the "Just Say No" days) through the early 2000s. The...
The link between underage drinking and behavioral issues
Some parents believe that it's normal for teens to "experiment" with alcohol, even if they're too young to drink legally. However, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) asserts that teen drinking can lead to some serious behavioral and...