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For many parents, recent changes to marijuana laws in Massachusetts have caused confusion about the legal status of marijuana – and made discussions with their children about the recreational use of marijuana more complicated. To address this issue, the Department’s Bureau of Substance Abuse Services …Continue Reading Struggling with how to talk to your child about marijuana?
In a report released Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlighted that alcohol screening and counseling is an effective but underused health service. In fact, only 1 in 6 adults in the United States reported discussing alcohol use with a health professional. …Continue Reading How much is too much?
The holidays are upon us, which means lots of occasions to celebrate with family and friends. Are you planning to host a holiday gathering this year? If you are, in addition to choosing how to decorate your home and planning the menu, you get to …Continue Reading A Choice of Festive Drink Recipes
Yesterday, DPH staff was joined at the State House by Secretary of Health and Human Services John Polanowicz to announce the Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution Program has reported its 2,000th overdose reversal in six years of operation. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, blocks the …Continue Reading DPH Announces 2,000th Narcan Reversal
You probably have to remind your teenager a few times to do their homework or take out the trash. The same goes for drugs and alcohol. Remind your teen that alcohol and other drugs are unhealthy, even if you’ve already talked about it. It might …Continue Reading Don’t Let the First Conversation about Drugs and Alcohol Be Your Last
When your teen improves their grades, or scores a run in their baseball game, do you congratulate them? Recognizing your kid’s accomplishments reinforces positive behaviors and has been shown to lower the likelihood they will use alcohol and other drugs. Many parents have found creative …Continue Reading Try positive reinforcement to help prevent teens from using drugs or alcohol
Summer is here and with it comes celebrations of all kinds such as beach days, barbeques and picnics with family and friends. In addition to good food and company, many of these festivities may include alcohol, so it’s important to remember that anyone who provides …Continue Reading Fun Ideas for Alcohol-Free Parties
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS) recently held their bi-annual Innovations in Addictions Conference, an event focused on groundbreaking approaches to treatment and prevention of substance abuse. The conference drew more than 350 attendees from a variety of disciplines and was a great opportunity for DPH to promote exciting innovations in how we prevent and treat substance use disorders, and support people in recovery.
Posted by Adrienne Deeble, an intern with the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services All parents know how important it is to encourage their kids to stay in school. In addition to helping them receive an education, attending school can help them lead healthy …Continue Reading Substance Abuse Higher Among Teens Not in School
Posted by Casey Cokkinias and Andrew Vidikan, student interns in the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services Have you ever left the doctor’s office only to realize you forgot to ask the important questions you had about your medication? Keeping track of various medications and their …Continue Reading Tips for Keeping Track of Your Medication
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