Opioid Epidemic Taxing Death Investigators Like Never Before

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner is sounding an alarm.  Dr. Andrew Baker says the opioid epidemic and a national shortage of medical examiners have created a perfect storm that is taxing death investigations in Minnesota and across the country like never before. There have been a lot of long days and nights at the Hennepin […]

Continue reading

All About the Teen Years – Connecting with Your Teen!

Strong Family Relationships Reduce Risky Behavior Even though your children might be pulling away, itching for more independence, deep down they want to be involved in the family and know that you still love and care for them. A strong bond with your child, especially during the teen years, helps reduce the chances of engaging […]

Continue reading

All About the Teen Years – Risk Factors & Why Teens Use

Ninety percent of addictions start in the teen year – 90%! Don’t ignore the risk factors and assume your child will be okay, or simply ignore a problem because you think it’s just a passing stage of development. If something appears wrong, seek professional help.  Common Risk Factors Unfortunately, when it comes to kids and […]

Continue reading

Brain Development & Teen Behavior

Ever wonder why your teenager acts the way they do? Well, there is a reason. Understanding the brain science behind teenage behavior can help parents better prepare their kids to avoid drugs an alcohol. In the coming weeks we will be exploring the the Teen Years!  Have you ever looked at your teenager child and […]

Continue reading

Text Message to Send to Your Kids

  If you’re concerned about your kid and drinking, use every opportunity to communicate your message – including via text. Here’s a helpful guide with suggestions for simple, effective text messages to send. Click on picture to enlarge view.                   

Continue reading

The Opioid Epidemic Is a Middle Class Problem, Too

Much of the conversation surrounding the opioid epidemic has, understandably, centered on poorer Americans, many of whom are insured under the Medicaid state-federal safety net program for low-income people. But a new analysis of more than 200 million private insurance claims finds that the crisis is also taking a massive toll on those with private […]

Continue reading