35: How to Work Through Teen Substance Abuse” with Richard Capriola, Mental Health Counselor Author of "The Addicted Child"

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Richard Capriola has been a mental health and substance use counselor for over two decades. He has treated both teen and adults diagnosed with substance use disorders including over a decade as a counselor at Menninger Clinic in Houston Texas. Richard is the author of “The Addicted Child”, a handy parental guide for adolescent substance abuse. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this episode Richard will discuss adolescent substance abuse, how the pandemic changed teen substance abuse and warning signs every parent, teacher and coach should know about. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Key Takeaways</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">How has the pandemic affected teen substance abuse? </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Why did drug use go down during the pandemic? Children became isolated at home. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">What drugs are teens using right now? </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Richard sees vaping on the raise among teens. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Vape devices can easily be hidden, so parents and teachers might not be aware of its use. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Why are teens using substances in the first place? The biggest reason cited was to help with their anxiety. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">We often spot the substance issue first, but we do not recognize the underlying emotional issue that the child is trying to cure or resolve. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">How should parents respond when their teens don’t think it’s a big deal? </