Who else remembers the egg in the frying pan from the 1980s commercial?! “This is your brain…this is your brain on drugs…any questions?” Actually, yes. A lot. Like why anyone thought a frying egg would prevent teens from using drugs. Most of us who grew up in the 80s recall…

I direct the largest addiction research center in the country, and I study substance use in adolescence. Here’s what every parent needs to know about adolescent substance use: 1. Adolescence is the time when most kids initiate substance use, establish regular patterns of use, and many start to experience consequences…

The benefits of giving up booze, if only for a bit — It’s no surprise that drinking and eating can get a bit out of hand during the holiday season. Accordingly, the new year seems like a perfect time to reset to healthier habits, and for many people that includes rethinking their relationship with alcohol. Despite what you see on TV, where…

For all my fellow idealistic parents who enter every holiday season with fantasies of Norman Rockwell moments We’re heading into holiday season. Like every year, I am captivated with ideas of magical holiday fun with the family. Hot chocolate with the kids by the fire. A family outing to pick…

Here’s the research on what works Everyone is connected to someone whose life has been affected; this is an issue that impacts all of us. Usually when I write those words, I’m talking about addiction, which is my area of study and a ubiquitous problem in our society. Today, I’m…

A new study shows multiple ways Am I at risk for developing an alcohol use disorder? Is my child? How would I know? These are questions frequently posed to me as the director of one of the largest addiction research centers in the country. …

Your reasons could indicate your risk of developing problems An advertisement in my hotel elevator exclaims: “Whether you want to wind down after a long day, or wind up for a night on the town, the [hotel bar] is the place for you!” It’s brilliant; that simple slogan captures decades…

How parents can address the ever-changing landscape of crazy stunts The headline in my inbox this morning: “FDA warns that social media trend is dangerous”. It was an emergency alert right beside information about COVID and antibiotic resistance. Apparently, the latest social media video challenge encourages people to cook chicken…

Could marijuana be the next epidemic? As the wave of legalization surrounding medical marijuana and recreational cannabis sweeps the nation, many of us who work in the addiction field are worried. Really worried. …