As parents, certain stories catch our eyes and make us stop and think. Recently, a news story illustrated the link between underage drinking and sexual assault. Regardless of the final charges, this story provided a teachable moment for adults, an important reminder that there's a strong connection between alcohol and sexual assault. But first I need to make one statement -- I don't want to make conclusions that aren't supported yet about the woman's guilt or innocence or whether she used alcohol to aid the alleged sexual assault; she is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Regardless of what she may have done, there is a strong connection between alcohol and sexual assault. Here’s one basic fact -- alcohol is the drug most used to facilitate sexual assault, and it's used in half of all sexual assaults. Additionally, it inhibits your teen child’s ability to: Think clearly, Set limits and make good...

Written by Caroline Capriccio, Wellspring Intern Results published from the 2018 Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey found a decrease in prescription opioid use among teenagers over the past year. For instance, the MTF found that use of prescription narcotics among 12 th graders decreased from 4.2% in 2017 to 3.4% in 2018. Additionally, past year use of specific prescription narcotics such as OxyContin and Vicodin also decreased among 8 th , 10 th , and 12 th graders, compared with levels five years ago. According to the survey, misuse of some of the more popular prescription opioid medications is at historic lows among teens in school. Past-year misuse of the Rx opioid Vicodin dropped to just 1.7 %, and this reflects a long-term decline from a peak of 10.5% in 2003. The past year misuse of prescription/OTC drugs among 12 th graders in 2018 were: Sedatives/Tranquilizers: 5.0% Adderall®: 4.6% Opioids: 3.4%...

Blog by Sally Perkins. Photo by Victoria Bilsborough on Unsplash Despite New Jersey being one of only two states country-wide to score an undisputed ‘10’ for having the right laws and regulations in place to help combat teen substance abuse, the state also boasts the 6th- highest teen overdose rate. The findings, which were disclosed by the organization known as Trust for America’s Health, highlight the importance of having both preventative and treatment measures in place to care for New Jersey’s most at-risk youth . Approximately 15% of substance treatment programs in the USA offer art therapy with nearly 11% of all teenagers in treatment having access to a program that makes use of art or music therapy. The use of art therapy in treating substance abuse is not new. It actually dates back as far the 1950’s with the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) particularly acknowledging the role art therapy...

Governors Press for More Funds to Fight Opioid Addiction Governors emphasized the need for additional federal funding and flexibility in the fight against the opioid crisis during the sixth hearing held by the Senate health committee this Congress. Learn More   Suicides, Drug Addiction and High School Football An hour’s drive from Louisville, perched along the Ohio River, sits the prettiest little town. Learn More   Shattering The Myth Of The ‘Addicted Baby’ The other day I caught the headline about a class-action against 20 pharmaceutical companies. Nothing earth shaking there. These lawsuits are well-publicized. What caught my eye was the first nine words of the story. Learn More   After Addiction Comes Families’ Second Blow: The Crushing Cost of Rehab Out-of-pocket expenses to save loved ones are soaring beyond what many can afford, especially when addicts go through multiple rounds of treatment Learn More   Mental Health Plays Role in...

Why some people swear by Alcoholics Anonymous — and others despise it The research offers some insights, but it’s complicated. Learn More   Time for Drug Courts To Equip Participants with Naloxone Individuals who use opioids after a period of abstinence are at a higher risk for overdose due to a lowered tolerance, a circumstance in which drug court participants with a history of opioid use may find themselves. Learn More APA releases new practice guideline on treatment of alcohol use disorder Today, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) released a new practice guideline on the treatment of alcohol use disorder. This practice guideline provides evidence-based statements designed to increase knowledge of the disorder and ensure the appropriate use of medications. Learn More   The United States Of Alcohol Abuse Alcohol is a unique legalized drug in American culture. It’s not a crime to consume in all states (unlike marijuana). There is...

When it comes to parenting, there are two insights I want to share. My first is for parents. In our work, we often hear parents talking about difficult relationships with their adolescent children. Many are desperate for what sounds like friendship with their teens. These parents hesitate to address problematic behaviors such as changes in friends, sex, drinking, or marijuana use. These topics make both parties uncomfortable. My message for parents is that parenting, especially parenting an adolescent, should be uncomfortable. Most of us may wish to avoid conflict and do so whenever possible. As a parent, conflict with adolescents over everything from musical tastes to fashion should be expected. So too, should many difficult conversations regarding parental expectations and consistent consequences for not living up to those expectations. There are things that must be said and done that teens will not like. How many of us can remember one of...

As any parent or caregiver raising teenagers knows, smartphones play a leading role in their daily lives. While social media, apps and messaging provide a fun and highly accessible path to connect and share with friends, such outlets also allow youth to connect with those they should not be connecting with and share things they should not be sharing. We’re talking SEXTING - defined as sending sexually explicit messages, photos or videos via cell phone or other electronic devices. Regardless of where you live or where your teens go to school, you can bet “sexting” is taking place among their peers. While we do not want to believe our children would ever make such a bad judgement call, it is important to know that 39% of teens report having sent sexually suggestive messages by way of text, email or instant messaging and 20% say they have sent nude or semi-nude photos...

Our Weekly Addiction News & Policy Update is a compilation of news items provided to Wellspring by a variety of sources. Wellspring staff assembles this information and is pleased to provide it to you. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, feel free to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The content of this email does not represent the official views or policies of Wellspring Center for Prevention. The content has been collected from a variety of sources and is provided for informational purposes only. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by Wellspring of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. If you do not wish to receive this email in the future, simply email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and ask to be unsubscribed. The global toll of fetal alcohol syndrome Worldwide, an estimated 119,000 children are born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) each...

Do you have your New Year’s Resolutions set yet? Many feel like this is just a tradition for adults, but it’s not a bad idea to get kids in on the action too. After all, it’s a healthy thing to teach the youth in your life about having goals, carrying them out, commitment, and starting fresh. The teenage years can be rough, complicated, and a confusing time. Encourage the adolescents you know to make some healthy resolutions, helping them have a more positive outlook for 2017. Here are some ideas to discuss with your teens: Don’t Procrastinate – There are so many demands put on the youth today and kids are often spread thin as is. Procrastination only makes things worse. Encourage your teen to divide his/her responsibilities into small time frames so that everything gets done, eliminating the stress of pulling all-nighters right before a deadline is due. Try New...

On an average day in the summer, over 11,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 use alcohol for the first time. Summer is a great season to have fun, explore, and try new things. Unfortunately with all the extra time that teens have, sometimes they explore and try new things that are a risk to themselves and others. Did you know that? On an average day in the summer, over 11,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 use alcohol for the first time. That is 3,000-6,000 more adolescents than any other random day throughout the rest of the year. As for first time cigarette use, the number climbs from 3,000-4,000 adolescents during the fall, winter, and spring months to about 5,000 during the summer months. More than 4,500 teens start using marijuana on an average day in June and July, as opposed to only about 3,000 to 4,000 during the other points in...