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What Drugs Really Do to Teens: Brains

“This is your brain on drugs.” An iconic ad campaign that influenced an entire generation of young people. But what do drugs really do to your brain when you’re a teen? Welcome to the first in our series about how drugs affect teen bodies.

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Parents: How Can You Help Teens Make Smart Choices?

Spring Break is just around the corner and summer isn’t far behind – both times when parental supervision levels may change as kids are away from home more. But even beyond these big events, kids need to be making good decisions about their lives and the things that might impact them every day. So, how […]

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The Impact of Taking Part in School Activities on Drug and Alcohol Use in Teens

Research shows there is a link between teen substance abuse and how well kids do in school. Teens who abuse drugs have lower grades, a higher absentee rate from school and other activities, and an increased potential for dropping out.[1] By participating in extracurricular activities like athletics, taking music lessons, or joining the newspaper staff, teens […]

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How Teachers Can Help Students Who’ve Survived Trauma

For children who have experienced trauma, learning can be a struggle. Trauma can cause physiological symptoms like stomachaches, headaches, and poor sleep habits. The impacts of a traumatic experience can affect a child well after the event into adulthood.[1] A child may feel hopeless, helpless, out of control and experience feelings of anxiety that won’t […]

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Student Mental Health: Teens and Depression

It can be easy to write off moodiness as hormones or teen drama, but could there be something more to it? The results from a Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy Study show that depression increased significantly in the U.S. from 2005 to […]

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What You Need to Know About Alcohol and Tobacco Use in Middle Schools

Why is adolescence a critical time to intervene in smoking and alcohol use? Early introduction of these substances can lead to a variety of adverse consequences, including addiction later in life, not to mention the impact on a developing brain and body. Identifying adolescents at greatest risk can also help stop problems before they develop.

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