What Your College-Age Children Should Know About Alcohol
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What Your College-Age Children Should Know About Alcohol

ByValarie Ward

North Carolina does not allow for any exceptions to its underage drinking policy. That means that the first time your kids will be allowed to drink is when they’re 21. Even after it’s legal, they shouldn’t necessarily start drinking; CDC guidelines “do not recommend that individuals who do not drink alcohol start drinking for any…

Do Mental Illnesses Need To Be Medicated?
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Do Mental Illnesses Need To Be Medicated?

ByValarie Ward

If you or a loved one are struggling to manage your mental health, there are many resources available to get you feeling better. Depending on the diagnosis, you and your care team might consider lifestyle changes, therapy, and/or medication.  However, medication for your mental illness can be complicated. Some medications come with unfortunate side effects…

Can Social Media Harm an Addict’s Recovery Process?
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Can Social Media Harm an Addict’s Recovery Process?

ByValarie Ward

When recovering from a substance use disorder, there are triggers hiding behind every corner–scents, sounds, locations, people, holidays, and perhaps even your own cell phone. Research about whether social media or the Internet are a type of behavioral addiction provides mixed results. Social media use is associated with depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem–but it can…

Empowering Boys: What Your Son Needs To Know About Marijuana
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Empowering Boys: What Your Son Needs To Know About Marijuana

ByValarie Ward

It’s important to start talking to your son about marijuana and alcohol early–perhaps even earlier than you think. One survey of underage individuals admitted for drug and alcohol treatment found that fourteen percent had started using cannabis before age 13. Studies have found that boys generally start using a little earlier than girls and, when…