The Bangor Daily News writes, “Starting in August, USM plans to open a space on campus aimed at helping students in recovery…”

Read the full article here

TeenSafe notes, “With school out of the summer and 4th of July weekend upon us, your teen is going to be looking to have a good time with friends. Yet, as we probably remember from our own teenage years, too much free time and the influence of friends can lead to some poor decision-making. So how can you ensure that your child is safe and responsible during their 4th of July celebrations? Here are a few preventative safety tips to go over with your teen”

Youth are 50% less likely to use drugs and alcohol when their parents talk to them regularly about the risks.

Parenting tips for the transition from middle school to high school, excerpt from Your Teen magazine:

1. Think now about limits
2. Be okay with conflict
3. Remember: humor helps
4. Focus on the positive
5. Embrace the big changes that come with high school
6. Have a united front
7. Be chill…at least after school

To read the full article click here

Almost half of high school seniors have used marijuana in their lifetimes, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. About 1 in 5 says they have used marijuana in the past month.

Read the article from abc Action News here.

According to Examiner.com, summer is often a time for celebration. Today’s teens work so hard during the school year. It is natural to want to kick back, relax and hang out with friends. Pop-up parties and get togethers are far more common on these long summer days. With so much more information available about the ill affects of alcohol on underage brains parents have become more astute when allowing their teens to host parties or get togethers.

Read the full article here.

According to the nonprofit RAND Corporation, a study that followed a group of students over a seven-year period, “Adolescents who use both marijuana and alcohol during middle school and high school are more likely to have poor academic performance and mental health during high school, according to a new study by the nonprofit RAND Corporation that followed a group of students over a seven-year period.

However, the study found marijuana use was predictive of poorer functioning across more areas, including lower academic functioning, being less prepared for school, more delinquent behavior and poorer mental health. The results are published online in the journal Addiction.”

Read the full study here

Every January, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) hosts a chat day for National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week^SM (NDAFW). This year, NIDA scientists answered more than 1,600 questions from teens and others about drug and alcohol use.  A link to the full chat transcript is on the NDAFW page.