A new federal study indicates that marijuana has become more popular among American teenagers. A drop in smoking, binge drinking and methamphetamine use was also noted in the study.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse survey via the University of Michigan showed that more teens are getting high on prescription pain medications and attention-deficit drugs.

White House drug czar Gil Kerlikowske said in a statement that the "continued erosion in youth attitudes and behavior toward substance abuse should give pause to all parents and policymakers."

Kerlikowske is the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Surrender

Surrender - the concept can be a terrifying thing. To some, the idea of surrendering to the fact that we are powerless over our disease may be thought of as a weakness. However, surrendering to the truth that we cannot conquer our addiction alone and that we need help to stop is, in fact, a tremendous strength. In surrender there is freedom. Surrender is empowerment.

Most addicts, while in active addiction, don't realize the emotional turmoil they cause to their family and loved ones. If you or someone you love is an addict then you have probably heard, or said this, or some variation of it..."it's my life and my body, and I'll do what I want with it." It is not uncommon for addicts to close themselves off from the rest of the world, but for some reason they never stop to think about others that this might affect. I used to think that by slowly killing myself the world would be better off, my parents wouldn't have to worry about me, and a great weight would be lifted off the earth. It is this self-centered behavior that stops a lot of people from seeking treatment. I want to let anyone know who might be reading this, that there are others like you, and there are others out there that have walked in your shoes and made it through to the other side. Call us...we know what you are going through and we can restore hope to you and your loved ones.

Friday night was our First Annual Holiday Party for employees and guests.  It was the generosity of our business partners that made this event possible.  We had over 100 in attendance.  Sandy, our HR Specialist, put together the event.  Nelson, our Accounting Specialist, was the very able DJ!  It was my pleasure to meet and thank our employees for the dedication and care they show our patients.

With the holiday season upon us, I find myself busting at the stockings with gratitude. The gifts this program has given to me are countless. My life today is exponentially better than it has ever been. I walked through the door to treatment a broken and defeated person. I had little hope and was generally unhappy with life. I think back to how life used to be and I am amazed at the amount of change that has taken place in a fairly short amount of time. Through treatment and working a program, my life continues to improve on a daily basis.

I am not going to get into the materialistic and commercial issues with the holiday season. However, I ask that this year we focus on being grateful for the things we have in life that are truly important. Presents are nice, don't get me wrong. We all love receiving gifts (FYI I prefer Cartier over Rolex), but try to be grateful for real gifts we have received this year. Whether they are reconnecting with a friend we grew apart from, growing closer to a loved one, or the relationships we have with family; cherish and be thankful for the people we have to share the holidays with. Happy Holidays from myself and everyone at The Treatment Center.