#substance-use

#substance-use

For decades, my colleagues and I advanced the premise that early substance use-nicotine, alcohol, or cannabis (or other addicting drugs)-interferes with critical maturation stages, particularly adolescence. Some questioned the science behind these premises, while others said it was propaganda from people disapproving of drugs like cannabis to justify their views. Despite this, clinicians often conveyed the cautionary: "The adolescent brain is still developing," or "Drugs hurt the teenage brain."

A relatively large body of research suggests that women who struggle with body image and eating issues are likely to abuse substances ( Bahji et al., 2019; Robinson, Walter, Deane, & Larance, 2023). For example, in a recent retrospective chart review of 182 women in treatment for an eating disorder, MacNeil and colleagues (2025) found that 34.6 percent reported using substances, with alcohol and over-the-counter (OTC) medications being most common.

Queer spaces have long been tied to nightlife culture, born from necessity in bars and clubs where safety and community were first found. But what started as a sanctuary has, for some, become a source of harm. As rates of addiction, relapse, and overdose climb across the LGBTQ+ population, we must reckon with an uncomfortable truth: celebration shouldn't come at the cost of our lives.

Although the decreasing prevalence of substance use among adolescents is encouraging, the decline is not as significant among teens experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors, as compared to their peers.

It's difficult for people in recovery to point to one reason for their decision to finally enter treatment. But many, like Indigo, noted the importance of the people who met them where they were at, physically and emotionally.

The data does not support the "gateway drug" myth; instead, THC is often a stepping stone to improved wellness and control over sleep and relaxation.

It was so f*cking stressful. John was running around New York City like a true madman, and I was so deeply scared that he was going to die.

"There's a lot of weird shit going on and it can be hard to adjust, but if you do it's magical. If you're not able to self-moderate and police yourself, it's endless."