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depression

"My friend seems sad a lot, maybe even depressed. She says smoking a little weed isn’t a big deal, but could this be making things worse for her? "

The high school years are one of the peak times for depression to occur, particularly in girls. Most adolescents on occasion feel sad, get "the blues," or have trouble coping, but it’s important to note…

"I was depressed a while back and at the time I didn’t realize what it was. I tried to describe it to my parents but they never seemed to listen. It went away, but now I think I’m feeling depressed again. What should I do?"

Depression is quite a serious issue in adolescence. Not only might it contribute to your making choices to do things you regret, but it can also affect your ability to function at school and with your …

"Does drinking and smoking pot increase depression? I stopped smoking and drinking, but now I have bad mood swings and sometimes I get so depressed. Is all of this from doing drugs? "

Many factors can contribute to a person becoming depressed, and alcohol or drug use are two factors that do make depression more likely to occur. Many people have the wrong impression and think that alcohol…

"My friend's having problems with her family. She says she sometimes wishes she wasn’t alive. She also gets drunk and passes out a lot. I’m just wondering what I can do to help her with her problem. "

Your friend is lucky to have someone like you concerned about her, and you are correct in your thinking that she needs help now. It sounds like a particularly rough time for her, and that her depressive…

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The experts who respond to your questions are consultants to the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. They have been selected to answer your questions based on their background and expertise. Their responses are their own and they have not been edited by ONDCP or the Media Campaign. To find out more about these doctors, visit their bios.