On Valentine’s Day, 2021, 19-year-old Logan Rachwal had an argument with his girlfriend and popped what he thought was Percocet, a painkiller that he bought on the social media app Snapchat. Logan fell asleep and never woke up.

Topics: marijuana, brain development, social media, drugs, opioids, myths, fentanyl

These days, it seems marijuana use has become as acceptable as a glass of wine with dinner. In addition, more states have become enamored of the revenue that comes with legalizing and taxing the drug.

Topics: marijuana, brain development, drugs, opioids, myths, fentanyl

President's Message - May 2023

We’ve all heard of the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) 12-Step program, but often think it’s for other people, specifically alcoholics.

But I think if more of us took the values it contains to heart, we’d all be better off, both individually and as a society.

Topics: President's Message, marijuana, alcohol, Informed Families, alcohol use, alcohol abuse

In the face of the recent public health alert from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which we told you about last month, U.S. lawmakers are moving to classify the dangerous animal tranquilizer xylazine as a controlled substance.

Topics: parenting, marijuana legalization, marijuana, teenagers, teens, cannabis, Xylazine

President's Message - March 2023

When trying to teach our kids to avoid drugs and alcohol, doesn’t it
sometimes feel like we’re fighting a losing battle?

Topics: President's Message, marijuana, alcohol, Informed Families, alcohol use, alcohol abuse

Our children face challenges of one degree or another every day of their lives. It’s part of growing up. It’s up to you to help your child persevere in the tasks they will need to accomplish throughout their lives.

Topics: parenting, marijuana legalization, marijuana, teenagers, teens, cannabis

 Important announcement from DEA! The DEA is warning the American public of a sharp increase in the trafficking of fentanyl mixed with Xylazine. Xylazine, also known as “Tranq,” is a powerful sedative that the FDA has approved for veterinary use.

Topics: parenting, marijuana legalization, marijuana, teenagers, teens, cannabis

Finally, some good news in the fight for drug sanity: Earlier this month, Oklahoma voters resoundingly rejected a ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana use. With nearly all the precincts reporting, the vote was 62 percent opposed and 38 percent in favor of the measure.

Topics: parenting, marijuana legalization, marijuana, teenagers, teens, cannabis

Today, widespread marijuana use has become an unfortunate fact of life. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have legalized its use, and 20 others—including Florida—have approved it for medical use. Celebrities like Bill Maher, Willie Nelson, and Woody Harrelson brag about their constant use of the drug.

Topics: parenting, marijuana legalization, marijuana, teenagers, teens, cannabis

President's Message - March 2023

Understanding connections between mental health, diseases, and social problems are the underlying icebergs (frequently created by our own behavior) that stop us from seeing the problem correctly and taking appropriate action. 

Topics: President's Message, marijuana legalization, marijuana, Informed Families, cannabis