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Parents

Parents

Parents

Parents

How To Help Teens Resist Online Extremism

On average, teens spend more than 7 hours each day watching videos, reading posts, and sharing information on the internet. Cat videos can be completely harmless and fan forums for television shows and music can be great ways for young people to have fun and connect with friends. But your teen’s favorite apps and social media sites are also highly effective tools for extremist groups to broadcast messages of hate

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How Contra Costa County, CA is Tackling the Opioid Crisis

The coronavirus pandemic dominates headlines across the country. Meanwhile, the opioid epidemic continues to disrupt the lives of families and individuals in every state. It hit midwestern states, such as Ohio and Pennsylvania, the hardest, but no state is immune – certainly not California. According to Contra Costa Health Services in Contra Costa County, California: 45 people in Contra Costa County died due to opioid overdoses in 2017. In 2016,

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Parents of Teens: Reminders for a Safe Fourth of July During COVID-19

This year, the Fourth of July may be difficult for teens. Many organizations have canceled in-person celebrations due to COVID-19. Beaches are closed. Traditional fireworks displays have been canceled. All this comes on the heels of cancelled proms, end-of-year trips, graduations, and summer camps. These disappointments are hard for teens. Now, no holiday weekend to spend with friends and extended family might just be the straw the breaks the camel’s

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Seven Ways Teens Can Celebrate the Fourth of July During COVID-19

It’s the Fourth of July! Woohoo! Head to the beach, have a cookout, and watch fireworks with your friends and family. But this year – probably not. Obviously the situation is a little different. With coronavirus cases rising all over America, local and state officials are urging families to stay home and remember that despite the holiday, we’re still in the midst of a pandemic. Some local governments are taking

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One Word That Can Harm Your Relationship With Your Teen

“Just snap out of it.” “Can’t you just get out of bed already?” “Just decide to be in a good mood, and you will be!” How many times have you uttered these phrases – or similar ones – to your teenager? While you think you’re being helpful, the word “just” invalidates any message you’re trying to give, says Dr. Robyn Koslowitz, PhD, director of the Targeted Parenting Institute. “Just” implies

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Drugs That Can Cause Psychosis in Teens

Having a psychotic episode can be scary – for the teen undergoing it, and the parent witnessing it. Psychosis can best be described as an out-of-mind experience. It involves hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. While many are aware of the relationship between psychosis to mental health disorders (like schizophrenia), less is known about drug-induced psychosis. Many teens may experience psychosis after using certain mind-altering drugs. While these drugs may not have

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L.A. County Teens: Mental Health and Addiction Statistics

Every year, the California Department of Education Coordinated School Health and Safety Office administers a survey to public school students in school districts across the state. This annual survey is called the “California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS)”. Officials administer this anonymous and confidential survey to public school students in grades five, seven, nine, and eleven in California. The survey asks students about safety and crime at school, experiences of bullying, academics,

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Anxiety & Mood Disorders

Does My Teen Have Bipolar Disorder?

Katy Perry’s Hot ‘n Cold describes your teen’s mood swings perfectly. Your teenager goes through major ups-and-downs. They vacillate between episodes of enthusiasm and joy and periods of sadness and lethargy. Yes, of course, everyone tells you that adolescent mood swings are common, but how do you know whether your teen’s symptoms are typical or require intervention? Bipolar Disorder in Teens Bipolar disorder was formerly referred to as manic-depressive disorder

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Teens with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by repetitive, obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that often intrude upon a person’s day-to-day life. This anxiety disorder is a common psychiatric disorder for adolescents. Evidence shows that between one and three percent of children and teens struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Some common types of obsession include worrying about something bad happening or worries about becoming sick or dying. Teens with OCD may show constant

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Report: The Most Commonly Abused Drugs in LA County

Addiction and substance use is a nationwide problem. But specific areas of the country show specific trends and drug patterns. For example, the 2019 Los Angeles County Sentinel Community Site (SCS) Drug Use Patterns and Trends Report shows the current statistics of drug use in Los Angeles County. Dr. Mary-Lynn Brecht of UCLA authored the report, which was funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) together with the

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