I used to have fairly liberal views on cannabis and have compared it favourably in the past with alcohol and tobacco, both of which exact a bigger toll on our society than all illegal drugs combined. [...]

In 2006, the UK Times reported that 35,000 British children, under the age of 16, were second generation heroin users. Harm reduction, Safe Sites, free heroin for hard core intravenous [...]

The abuse of the drug methamphetamine, or meth, is a growing problem across the country. Read on to find out what it is, why some young people are using it, and what you can do to help your teen.

What is Meth?

Methamphetamine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that dramatically affects many areas of the central nervous [...]

Teenagers by nature can be moody and unpredictable so it’s sometimes difficult to tell if your child is using meth. However, there are warning signs to watch for. Take a look at the following to see if you recognize any of them in your teen.

Short-Term Use Can Result In:

Alertness and inability to sleep: Something might [...]

There are some signs you might be able to see. If someone is high on marijuana, he or she might.
 
seem dizzy and have trouble walking;
 
seem silly and giggly for no reason;
have very red, bloodshot eyes; and
have a hard time remembering things that just happened.
When the early effects fade, over a few hours, the user can [...]

There is no magic bullet for preventing teenage drug use. But parents can be influential by talking to their children about the dangers of using marijuana and other drugs, and remain actively engaged in their children’s lives. Even after teenage children enter high school, parents can stay involved in schoolwork, recreation, and social activities with [...]

By Gareth Bethell

A MUM has spoken out about the damage cannabis has done to her family in a 20-year battle with the drug.
Mary, not her real name, says it has made her son mentally ill and torn the family apart.
Her comments come after Keith Thompson, of Wootton Bassett, insisted he would carry on smoking cannabis [...]

Start early
As a parent, take the opportunity to talk to your child first, before they hear and receive mixed messages from their peers.
Initiate conversations with your child
Speak clearly to your child and use vocabulary that they will be able to understand. Wait for a window of opportunity to initiate conversation; try not to interrupt your [...]

Cook with your family
Plan one on one dinners/weekend brunches
Enable your child to be artistic (writing, drawing painting, comic book drawing, photography, computer graphics)
Get involved with your child’s organized sports/Exercise together
Suggest school clubs and societies for your child to join, like drama or foreign language club
Encourage your child to play a musical instrument
Read together (books, daily [...]

If you are suspicious that your child may be using drugs, don’t ignore the warning signs! Kids seldom grasp the concept of addiction and think of themselves as immune to danger. For some, drugs become a tempting escape from their world. If many of these signs seem applicable to your teen, don’t despair. Effective help [...]