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For years, popular television shows and movies have portrayed American youth as frequent users of marijuana—so much so that it’s sometimes considered a rite of passage among young people. Many parents feel it’s inevitable that their children will experiment, and wonder if a permissive approach might be a safer, more realistic strategy than completely banning it. But letting kids use cannabis at home doesn't teach them to use it responsibly—and it doesn't keep them safer. Here's what you need to know about underage cannabis use at home.
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Talking about cannabis with your teens can be unnerving, especially if you’re a past or present cannabis user yourself. If your child asks, should you disclose your own experience with cannabis to them? Will honesty hurt or help this conversation?
Cannabis is now legal for adult use in 21 states and decriminalized in another 10, but it still poses a variety of dangers for teens and adolescents. It’s crucial to talk openly about cannabis with your kids before they ever have the chance to try it. Bringing your own experiences to the table can help to strengthen your message—as long as you know what to say and how to say it.
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Since Connecticut’s legalization of adult-use cannabis last year, there’s been a lot of discussion about the potential ramifications for teens and adolescents. Becoming part of this conversation—and the solution—starts with getting informed. Here’s what you need to know about the complex relationship between mental health and cannabis use among young people, whose brains are still developing.
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Adult use of cannabis is now legal in Connecticut, and retail sales will officially begin in January 2023. However, the new law’s impact on teens and adolescents—who are most at risk for developing Cannabis Use Disorder—remains to be seen. Here’s how you can help steer kids away from underage use and keep them safe from CUD.
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For high school and college students, Thanksgiving and winter breaks are a chance to catch up with friends and enjoy some unstructured time after exams have been taken and final papers turned in. But all too often, alcohol plays a leading role in the festivities, and that comes with big risks. Here’s how you can pitch in to prevent underage drinking—and keep your community safe.
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Drinking at college has long been thought of as a rite of passage. Students turn to alcohol expecting a good time and a relief from social anxiety, but far too often, this “campus experience” has lasting and even deadly consequences. That’s because college students are especially vulnerable to binge drinking—a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings one’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08% or higher.
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September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. For parents and other members of the community, this is an opportunity to broach what can often be an uncomfortable or difficult topic with teenagers.
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