A: Every single drug of abuse, including alcohol, can affect your personal appearance. In many instances, these changes to how you look can be permanent, shocking and embarrassing. Almost every single drug of abuse can cause someone to lose so much weight that they are malnourished and unhealthy. Drugs can affect your skin by making you look much older than you really are. This is probably due to the combination of poor sleep, stress and poor nutrition. Many of our patients in our Addiction Clinic are in their 20s, but look 10 years older. Drugs can also cause you to have very damaged teeth and gum disease. Users of methamphetamine have a much higher likelihood of gum infections, cavities and tooth loss than expected. This is called “meth mouth”. In other areas of personal appearance, hair thinning and hair loss can be accelerated by using drugs and alcohol. And some drugs, such as anabolic steroids or alcohol, will cause shrinkage of reproductive organs (testicles) and excessive growth of breasts in men – two examples of highly undesirable outcomes in personal appearance.

A: DMT, formally known as N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, is a hallucinogenic drug that when ingested can cause users to experience visual, auditory and bizarre experiences such as seeing oneself from afar, mixing up of senses (hearing smells, seeing tastes). This drug affects the serotonin system, a chemical system in the brain that is responsible for controlling mood, attention and sensory processing. Synthetic DMT can be smoked, snorted or ingested. At this point, little is known about long-term effects of DMT use in humans, but animal research has shown that there may be damage to the brain areas that control mood, cognition and problem-solving. Clinically, I have seen several patients who have used DMT just a few times and they still struggle with depression, anxiety and concentration several months later.

A: Ecstasy, otherwise known as "X", is classified both as a stimulant and a hallucinogenic drug. It affects many different parts of the brain, especially areas that control pleasure, mood, emotional control and interpretation of sights, sounds and smells. The main neurochemicals that Ecstasy impacts are serotonin and dopamine. In a nutshell, the drug alters levels of these neurochemicals dramatically, causing the brain to radically change how it processes information and sensations. Ecstasy users report that many of their senses are intensified and heightened, as if the volume or the color control on the television were turned up to maximum. Some users report hallucinations, where they see or hear things that are not actually there. Others report having intense emotional experiences where they begin to laugh and cry without any particular reason.

Recent scientific work has shown that Ecstasy causes significant damage to the brain, even after just a few administrations. For this reason, many patients who are addicted to Ecstasy say that, even when they are sober, they just don't feel like that they have returned to normal. Those addicted to Ecstasy often have to deal with long-term psychiatric problems such as depression, impairments in learning, anxiety, insomnia and difficulty controlling anger. Although more research is needed in this area, scientists are pretty certain that Ecstasy can cause permanent damage to the brain, especially to areas of learning, memory, attention and mood. Knowing this is even more important for young adults because their brains are still growing (up until mid-20s!) and Ecstasy can and will dramatically affect brain growth and development.

A: Muscle building steroids are a Frankenstein-like mish-mash of synthetic chemicals meant to replicate natural occurring hormones. Most muscle building steroids are illegal, because they are poorly studied and have a wealth of negative effects while taking them, and when coming off of them. Most medical steroids are prescribed and managed by a physician because of their powerful effects on the body and potential negative side effects. Muscle building steroids are not managed by a physician, but can still have the same negative side effects. These substances alter most facets of human development, especially in teens, and can lead to cardiovascular problems, skin and acne concerns, stunted physical growth, abnormal development of reproductive organs, and even death.

Yes, there are negative withdrawal symptoms to steroids, depending on what is taken - the best way to avoid these symptoms is not to use them, or to stick with natural supplements and healthy eating habits.

A: Yes, depending on the concentration of smoke in the air, the size of the room you are in, and the amount of time you spend in the vicinity of someone else smoking marijuana, you can be affected by the second-hand smoke. Depending on your particular physical make-up, you may retain traces of marijuana in your system for up to 30 days.

A: The long-term effects of smoking marijuana can be divided up into physical and emotional consequences. In terms of physical consequences, smoking marijuana is linked to many of the same problems as tobacco smoking (such as cough, phlegm and wheeze). Marijuana users usually inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers do, which further increases the lungs' exposure to carcinogenic smoke. Research has shown that the most common physical problems from smoking marijuana can be lung problems such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Some smokers report having chronic cough (an early sign of serious lung damage) just a few months after regular marijuana use.

Long-term emotional consequences can be highly variable. The most damaging one is probably the risk of developing a psychiatric illness such as depression, anxiety or other psychotic symptoms. Marijuana has never been shown to help these psychiatric problems over time and there is a mountain of research to show that if you smoke marijuana now, then your psychiatric problems are not likely to get better on their own - actually, they are more likely to get worse.

There is also clear evidence that smoking pot will affect your ability to learn, and function in school. Clearly this will have a huge impact on your life, from interfering with the kinds of jobs you want or getting into your first choice of college. From another perspective, marijuana can also cause you to reduce your motivation in life and to become more apathetic about things. In turn, this can also be just as damaging to life because it means missing out on important opportunities.

A: The scientific evidence shows that pot affects just about every part of your memory and the ability to learn. For instance, pot can make people more forgetful, have lower attention spans, and to show that marijuana use in high school or be less creative. There are now several studies college will result in lower grades and academic performance.

Additionally, those who smoke marijuana regularly are more likely to drop out of high school and also have alcohol-related problems. Marijuana is a powerful drug that can affect many different parts of the brain especially the parts that control learning and memory. Research has also shown that your brain is going through the most growth during the adolescent years - so if you smoke pot it can affect proper development of your brain, which could not only cause learning problems in high school, but also in the future.

A: Creatine is a dietary supplement that is popularly used by professional athletes and hopeful sports competitors who believe it is safe and will improve sports performance. Some research studies, mostly with young men, have shown that some individuals taking creatine for a short time can show improvement in specific types of exercise that use repeated short bursts of power. However, no studies have shown that creatine use improves maximal strength or aerobic exercise performance.

Keep in mind that just because something does not seem to have side effects does not guarantee it is safe. Although creatine is a natural product, this doesn't make it completely safe, since the large amount being used is not ?natural.' It is more natural to continue to rely on athletic ability, training, and dedication to determine sports performance.

Also keep in mind that creatine leads to noticeable weight gain within the first few days, probably from retaining water. Some research suggests that high-dose creatine use before or during exercise might have harmful effects on body fluid balance, so using creatine at these times is not recommended. People have reported creatine use to cause nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea, as well as decreased kidney function, high blood pressure, and muscle cramps.

A: When your friend gives some of his pills to friends, he is putting himself and his friends at risk. Adderall is a stimulant medication usually used in a long-acting form to help treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Your friend was probably prescribed Adderall to help him focus his thoughts and ignore distractions, so he can reach his full potential, but that is not happening when he gives his pills to someone else.

Teens often mistakenly believe that getting a medication by prescription means it is safe, so that it must also be safe to take for non-medical reasons or in larger doses. This is completely wrong and even that short-term high may be doing real harm to the brain and body.

A: One of the most common causes of death from drinking alcohol is alcohol poisoning. Binge drinking can be defined as drinking more than five standard drinks (four drinks for women) over two hours (A standard drink is usually thought as one beer, one shot of hard liquor, or one glass of wine).

Young adults who drink a lot a few times a year are just as likely to cause problems in their lives than those who drink everyday. Binge drinking especially puts people at risk to cause car accidents, sexual assaults, and other destructive behaviors. Teens who binge drink are also more likely to develop tolerance to alcohol (that is, they will need to drink more drinks to get the same effect).

Binge drinking also puts people at risk to develop alcohol poisoning. Many teens feel that alcohol is safe because it is legal and widely available. The truth is that over 100,000 people a year die from alcohol-related deaths. If people drink too much alcohol over one period they can die from it. The usual cause of death is brain damage to the parts of the brain that control breathing. Ask yourself: Is that how you want to end a fun night out?

A: Due to the severe withdrawal symptoms, cocaine is a very difficult substance to stop using. Frequent use can deplete the body’s dopamine, and leave your friend susceptible to depression, possibly severe depression. This can be a huge problem when quitting, along with all the other side effects and health risks that go along with frequent substance use. The best thing you can do is to encourage your friend to get help, professional help. Your friend should be evaluated by a trained substance-abuse professional to find out how severe the use is, to formulate a treatment plan, and to work to implement that plan. If your friend isn’t willing to get help, maybe you can encourage him to talk to his parents. If this doesn’t work, you might need to speak to his parents on your own. It is not easy to quit using cocaine on your own. Having the help and support of a friend like you, along with professional intervention, is the key to your friend’s recovery.

A: I can safely say that any help you receive from a professional psychologist, counselor, therapist, or social worker, or school counselor is going to be confidential. The behavior of these professionals is guided by very strict laws of confidentiality and codes of ethics from their professional organizations. Confidentiality is taken very seriously, as it is one of the most important factors in allowing individuals such as yourself get the help they need, without your confidence being compromised.

A: Percocet and hydrocodone are opiate medications used for pain. They are highly addictive because they are powerful drugs that, in some people, can create feelings of euphoria, calmness, sedation, and emotional numbness. If you have been taking these drugs for more than a year, it is highly probable that your body is now dependent on them. If you stop taking the medications cold-turkey you could develop signs of opiate withdrawal, which include diarrhea, anxiety, muscle aches, sweating profusely, running nose, cramping, and intense desire to take more opiates.

The withdrawal from opiates is not life-threatening but it can be very difficult and uncomfortable to overcome.Left without treatment, the period of withdrawing from opiates can last anywhere from three to 10 days. Cravings for opiates are a strong sign of withdrawal and is often the last symptom to go away on its own. Most people who are addicted to opiates are so worried about the withdrawal process that they continue to use even though they know it will not help. Nowadays people should not have to go through withdrawal on their own. There are plenty of places and medications that are available to make the detoxification/withdrawal process go much smoother and without complications.

People who get into treatment will start feeling good again as soon as they get help to deal with the withdrawal symptoms. People who don't get this help tend to continue to struggle with cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and are not able to stop taking the opiates on their own.

A: The answer is clearly "yes." Marijuana use, like other drugs, poses multiple risks for teens. One of those risks is addiction. Addiction involves both psychological and physical components. This may mean that you find yourself often using more marijuana than you had planned, (for example, using more on a single occasion or more often than you thought you would). In other words, your use starts feeling out of control.

Similarly, you may promise yourself that you won't use anymore or that you won't use so much or so often, and then find yourself back using at the same or greater rate than before. You may notice that the process of getting pot, using it, and being high, is taking more of your time each week, and you stop doing things you used to do like sports or other activities. You may find that you need more marijuana to get the same high, or find that the same amount doesn't produce the same effects that it used to; this is called developing "tolerance" to a drug.

Last, if you smoke pot frequently (multiple times per week or per day), you may notice when you stop that you may feel irritable, nervous, restless, have sleep problems, less of an appetite, and maybe even feel depressed. These are withdrawal symptoms that have been associated with quitting marijuana.

You might also want to know that teens appear to be at a somewhat higher risk statistically for developing dependence on marijuana than adults because of the stage of a teen's brain development which makes them more vulnerable. We are not sure why teens are more vulnerable, but it may have to do with the stage of a teen's brain development, the general feelings of invincibility, rebellion, and impulsivity that are a normal part of teen development, or environmental influences such as peers or friends that get high or the struggle to fit in socially.

A: This is in actuality a fallacy. Drug addicts will not stay sober by staying busy with hobbies. Boredom for addicts is often a manifestation of depression. So it is important that your brother see a psychiatrist who has experience treating addicts. Not treating his depression will endanger his sobriety. He doesn't do drugs because he is bored, however. He does drugs because he is an addict and there is something very wrong with his program of sobriety. He may need more structure, as I said above, he might need associated disorders treated, and he clearly needs to increase his meeting attendance and work more diligently with a sponsor.

A: No, it's a common misconception that only people who use "hard-core" drugs ? also known as "street drugs" ? need treatment. Any substance, when used to excess, can become addictive or cause a person to become dependent. Treatment is available, and very often necessary, for people who abuse any substance, including alcohol, marijuana, prescription pills, over-the-counter substances, meth, heroin, etc.

Drug abuse can have a significant impact on all areas of a person's life including their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, relational, and financial well-being. As the abuse continues, problems multiply and start a difficult downward spiral. Treatment can interrupt this negative process, help people put their lives on a positive path, and work towards improving on the losses drug abuse may have caused.

A: Drug addiction is a brain disease. One of the reasons that people who are addicted to drugs just can't stop on their own is that this disease is so powerful that it changes the way people think and behave. Imagine if someone said to you to just cut back your eating from three meals a day to just one every other day. After a while, you would get an intense hunger and the only thing you would think about is food.

Drug addiction is very much like that - there is an intense hunger or craving with drugs that doesn't just go away with willpower. Furthermore, patients with drug addiction have been shown to have abnormalities in the areas of the brain that are responsible for self-control. So, when these parts of the brain are damaged, no matter how hard someone tries to stop, he or she cannot do it without admitting the problem and getting help.

The good news is that once a patient with a drug addiction decides to quit, the success rates for treatment are actually pretty good. This is especially true when they have support from their families, friends and doctors in order to recover. Sometimes the toughest part about treating patients is just getting them motivated to start treatment.

A: All sorts of people can become addicted to drugs from all walks of life ? young and old, rich and poor, males and females. What you are pointing out is that there are several environmental risk factors that contribute to a person developing drug addiction.

One of the most powerful risk factors is spending time with other people who use drugs and alcohol. It is important to note, though, that just hanging out with people who smoke pot won't make you into a drug addict. There are a lot of other risk factors that make people become addicted, some of them genetic and some of them environmental.

For instance, research has shown that people who have a lot of stress in their lives (from dealing with a family divorce or being the victim of physical or sexual abuse) have an increased likelihood of developing a drug addiction. Another example of a major risk factor is family history. If you are related to someone with a drug addiction problem, the chances that you will develop an addiction are higher.

Nowadays, we don't usually say that people have an "addictive personality." Instead, we emphasize that some people are born with a higher genetic risk to develop addictions than others. For instance, people who have a positive experience the first time they take drugs are more likely to develop an addiction. We know this is partially controlled by genetics. Overall, we know that everyone exposed to drugs could become addicted, especially under certain circumstances. This is why it is so important to prevent young people from using drugs in the first place.

A: Yes, there are a variety of ways to seek help without going into a treatment center. However, you may find out that a treatment center might be most beneficial for you. To find out, I would recommend talking with someone who is educated in the field of substance abuse and addiction. A professional's assessment can help you to determine the extent of your drug dependency. From there, you will be able to determine the appropriate course of action for you.

If you are struggling to build trust, it may be helpful to talk to people who have been in a similar situation. Local support group meetings can assist you at this critical time and help you realize that you are not alone.

There will be people there who can relate to you and what you're going through. Also, you can find help locally by calling NCADI(National Clearinghouse of Alcohol & Drug Information) at 1-800-788-2800 to be referred to a confidential hotline in your area or receive other resources.

A: That's good news that your friend has gotten help! Treatment is difficult, but living a clean, healthy life of recovery and sobriety after treatment is even more difficult. Rehab is often a very safe environment for a person to get clean and begin to learn the basics of recovery. Once treatment is completed, the person is challenged to put those practices to work in a less safe environment ? the real world.

In order to stay healthy, your friend has to avoid those people or things that encourage unhealthy behavior. It's a good idea to avoid people that your friend used with and places where they used. There is a saying that goes something like this, "if you spend enough time in a barber shop, you're bound to get a haircut." If your friend spends enough time after treatment associating with those people or places that lead to her unhealthy behavior, she is bound to return to that behavior eventually.

If you want to be a part of your friend's recovery and support your friend, then yes, it's a good idea for you to choose not to hang around the people who contributed to that unhealthy behavior.

A: You must be an awesome friend to be courageous enough to ask this question! Yes, I agree you should do something to help your friend. If your friend is being hurt or abused, it is important to get help for her as soon as possible. You can tell your friend that you are worried about her and her situation, and even ask her if she would like to go with you to talk to somebody. But even if she disagrees, it’s still important for you to talk to someone. You may want to start with talking to your parents or your school guidance counselor—any trusted adult that can help you start the process of helping your friend with her situation. From there, you and the trusted adult can work to get your friend the help she needs. Good luck!

A: The effects of alcohol withdrawal can vary significantly depending on how often a person drank, how much they drank, and how consistently they drank. Withdrawal can range from headaches and general lethargy - what many people refer to as a "hangover", to more dangerous physiological symptoms.

If you, or anyone you know, has a significant problem with alcohol and they are now trying to quit, it is very important to enlist the help of a trained professional. An experienced counselor, psychologist, or physician with training in substance abuse can help determine the extent of use, and the potential withdrawal symptoms, and then help the person formulate a plan to stop using in the most effective and healthy manner possible.

A: This is a difficult situation, and you are definitely a good friend for wanting to help your peers. One of the best ways you can help your friends is to let them know you disagree with what they are doing ? sometimes just having that conversation with them is enough to encourage them to change their behavior. Often, teaming up with another friend to talk to your peers can be encouraging and help you get your message across. If this doesn't help, it may be a good idea to talk to a trusted adult about the resources available in your school, or in your community.

A: It's tough to stay away from drugs once a person gets started, but it can be done. It is easier to lead a healthy life away fromdrugs and alcohol with support. The fact that you're setting a boundary with your boyfriend is very good, but you may also want to encourage him to find other resources to help him stay clean. Seeing a trained professional can be helpful and will allow him to develop coping skills to deal with his cravings to use. That professional can also work with him to help him identify potential triggers that cause him to want to use, and how to avoid those triggers or lessen their pull on him.

It may be a good idea for your boyfriend to consider changing his friends if he wants to stay clean ? if he continues to associate with them frequently, and if they continue to use, the combination would likely lead him to using again.

Finally, you have to know that it's not your responsibility to fix this problem for him. You can't make him stay clean, but you can support his good decisions and healthy lifestyle.

A: The fact that you told him that you're concerned about his drug use is the first step (and often the hardest). You can't force your brother to stop using drugs, just like he can't force you to do anything that you don't want to do. One of the most effective ways to help him is to be consistent with what you say to him. For instance, you might say, "you know, I worry about you when you take drugs. If you ever change your mind and need help, I will always be here to help."

Another piece of advice is to make sure that you don't do anything that will enable him to continue using drugs. For instance, don't give him money, don't cover up for him with your parents and don't protect him from the consequences of his drug use (like doing his homework or his chores).

Finally, if you need more support for yourself, there are groups called Al-Anon (which includes Ala-teen for younger people) or Nar-Anon that are for the family members of drug users ? these support groups can give you a lot of other ideas on how to deal with your brother's drug use.

A: The hardest part about getting help is taking the first step and asking for it; once you take that courageous step, you will find that there is a wealth of information, and people willing to help you. Consider confiding in someone you trust and let them know you need help. It might be easiest to start with a friend, and then ask him/her to help you talk to an adult.

It is important that, at some point, you talk to someone who is trained and who has experience with the problems you're dealing with. Whether you are struggling with drug use, family pressures, body image, or food-related concerns (or any other stress that you're feeling), there are professionals trained to help while also respecting your confidentiality.

There will be people there who can relate to you and what you're going through. Also, you can find help locally by calling NCADI (National Clearinghouse of Alcohol & Drug Information) at 1-800-788-2800 to be referred to a confidential hotline in your area or receive other resources.

A: This is a tough situation for everyone involved, but your wanting to help is important in saving her life. It is very important to diagnose and treat eating disorders as soon as possible. At first, eating disorders are often difficult to detect, and teens usually make excuses or deny having a problem or needing help, just like your friend does. But this is exactly when the problem needs to be addressed.

No matter how patient and supportive you are, your friend may not admit to needing help. This can be very stressful and discouraging for you, especially when your friend doesn't listen. You may want to consider discussing your concerns with a respected school nurse or physician, teacher, coach, or counselor. Then they may be able to talk privately with your friend or involve a parent.

Ultimately, she is the one who must realize her eating habits are harming her health, and she may need professional help in order to do this. Keep in mind, that the earlier eating disorders are addressed, the better the outcome.

A: This is a very difficult situation. There are many facts that you could share with him, most of which can be found on this Web site. Here are a few facts:

• Marijuana is a drug that you can get addicted to.
• More teens are in treatment with a primary diagnosis of marijuana dependence than for all other illicit drugs combined.
• Pot smoke contains some of the same cancer-causing substances as tobacco and is harmful to the lungs.
• Marijuana abuse affects your memory and school performance.

These facts may get him to think twice and are worth letting him know about. But even more important is that you tell him you're concerned about him. Check out the Help section for some ideas and examples of what to say and how to try to reach your friend. Making a careful plan and even practicing what you might say is a good idea. Continue to let him know that you are worried about him, that you like him better when he's not stoned, and that you'd like to be his friend, but not when he's using. Even offer to help him quit. Most importantly, don't give up on him, but also don't support his use. Be clear that you'd like to be friends with him, but that he needs to quit for you to spend time with him. Last, try to remember that there is only so much you can do. Be proud that you are trying to help, but don't take responsibility for changing him.

A: It doesn't sound like your brother's friends are being very good friends at all. And they're passing on bad information. To help him, encourage your brother to do some research on his own. Although marijuana doesn't have the same lethal effects of some drugs, make no mistake, it is "bad". The short term effects of marijuana are well chronicled, and they include: memory difficulties, lung problems worse than any cigarette smoke, and frequent paranoia. The long term effects of marijuana continue to impact the memory and general brain functions.

Of course, there are also other consequences that are not so obvious: using marijuana would possibly lead him to do things he never thought he would do and frankly increases your brother's chances of being caught which would only add to his troubles. And sadly, a lot of people find that marijuana use robs their motivation to do something with their lives, resulting in decreasing grades, giving up activities like playing sports, and losing direction towards goals for the future.

Encourage your brother to stay away from pot and to read the research. You may also want to suggest ways that you can hang out together as an alternative. It's important that he has you as another influence in his life.

A: Although you may not agree with it or like it, your family is doing the right thing in setting strong boundaries with you. This isn't easy for them either, but I am sure they are doing it because they care about you, and want to help.

If your friends are using drugs, and supporting your use of drugs, are they really "friends?" If they are supporting your drug use, they probably aren't looking out for your best interests.

You may want to consider finding friends you can do other things with that don't involve drugs. Hopefully, you can find some other positive, healthy activities that you enjoy. By branching out, you'll meet new people who want to still have fun, but don't have to rely on drugs for a good time.

A: Different people see things from different perspectives. So having different interpretations of something (especially your appearance) can certainly be confusing and frustrating.

Teens want to be attractive to others and often feel pressured through media images and peer influences to try to achieve the "perfect body" - although this is rarely realistic or achievable. Adolescents usually value and trust what their friends and family tell them, but they also want to feel good about themselves and make their own decisions.

Some thoughts and habits you describe, such as "seeing yourself as fat" and skipping meals, can be common teen phase that will pass by without causing any health problems. But, fixating on these types of things can lead to unhealthy eating habits and dangerous dieting, or a true eating disorder. Teens can become overly concerned about their looks and about dieting, so that they deny that they have an eating disorder.

This is a good time for you to set healthy and realistic body-image goals for yourself. One approach to this would include discussing your ideas and feelings with your close friends and family, and seeking recommendations from health professionals who are knowledgeable about teenagers, nutrition, growth, and fitness.

Everyone has something they would like to change about themselves. However, understanding what can be changed, as well as what can't be changed, is really the more important lesson. Being attractive to others has a lot to do with liking yourself and being confident about how you see yourself.

A: Your concern for your family is understandable and well-founded! I'm sure you're feeling alone right now, but there are people and groups out there you can lean on during this difficult time. Living in a home with an alcoholic, or drug-using parent is very stressful, and can be potentially harmful to your mental health and well-being over the long-term. I recommend you, and your siblings, find a trusted adult you can talk to and confide in, like an aunt, uncle, or grandparent. Find someone who can listen to you and help. Or perhaps there's someone like a guidance counselor, coach, or teacher you could talk to about this.

It would be even better if you were able to speak to a professional or therapist especially one who understands alcoholism and is trained in helping families deal with this kind of stuff. They can help you deal with the stress of living in an alcoholic home, and hopefully help your parents get the help the need too.

Lastly, you can't control what your parent does about his or her problem, but you can get help for yourself.

A: 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 peers. These things can have long-term impact on your development and the course of your life. I suggest you ask to speak to your doctor and tell her or him how you are feeling. If you do not have a health care provider then perhaps there is a trusted teacher at school. The important thing to know is that help is available and you needn't suffer with this.

A: I try to stay away from words like good or bad. Rather, let's look at what's healthy for you and likely to help you with these unpleasant feelings. Look, my intent is not to "bum your high" or something. If doing drugs would help you with your feelings why would I get in the way of that?

The reality is that drugs of abuse and addiction are never helpful or healthy. The impact of virtually every drug of abuse will ultimately adversely impact how you are feeling. I cannot deny that in the short run drugs make you feel good, but there is a consequence on the other side.

Drugs of abuse impact your brain in such a way that after you come down you feel worse, often a lot worse. This is many times how people end up doing more and more.

If you are having stress at school or family problems there are people who can help with these issues, people that can help you find relief and help you deal productively with these issues. Tell a trusted adult family member or someone at school about how you are feeling and ask for help.

A: You are asking a very important question, since teens are often very focused on how they look. These days there is a lot of media attention about Americans becoming increasingly overweight. Everyday, you hear about different fad diets and famous people dieting, and it may seem like the thing to do. High school is also a popular time to experiment with different foods and diets, such as trying a vegetarian diet or a high protein diet, but remember, not every diet or reason to diet is good.

Watching what you eat and being healthy is important, but sometimes dieting can get out of control if the person keeps losing weight well past their goal and can't seem to stop. The more extreme a diet is (especially when severely limiting the calories eaten) the more likely the abnormal eating will lead to a full blown eating disorder (such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa).

Eating disorders are diagnosed with very specific medical criteria, but you may be concerned about a friend way before that happens.

There are a few things that may suggest an eating disorder and need for medical attention. They are when a friend's diet extremely limits food choices or calories, there is frequent meal-skipping, compulsive exercise, large weight changes, fat-phobia, a preoccupation with food or eating rituals, substitution of ice or gum chewing for eating, no appetite or energy, and lots of vomiting.

A: 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 feelings are very likely an important part of the problem.

Many people mistakenly think alcohol is a stimulant that will make them feel better, so they try to treat their own depression by drinking alcohol, but the actual result is further depression. Additional problems arise from risky behaviors under the influence of alcohol, such as sexual assault or motor vehicle accidents. Many times the person drinking alcohol does not even remember what happened.

From your description, your friend is likely to need or free professional help, so she can sort through her personal, family, and psychological issues that are so troublesome right now. It is very important to learn how depressed she is and whether suicide has become a real risk.

The best way to help her is to listen to what she is saying, then use a supportive and caring tone to tell her how much her friendship means to you. Convince your friend to talk with the school counselor or social worker, a doctor in a local clinic or emergency room, or someone else as interested in her health as you are, so that she can receive the care and counseling that she needs as soon as possible.

A: 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 if these moods are more frequent, or start to interfere with daily life.

Sometimes people think that drinking or smoking pot will help them feel better by escaping their worries and problems. But alcohol is actually a depressant, which could make you feel even worse.

It sounds like your friend is trying to convince herself - and you - that her pot smoking is not harmful. But research has shown that smoking any amount of pot has a number of well-known associated risks and health consequences like it causes memory and learning problems, distorted perception, and difficulty thinking and solving problems. These are all things that would make her life even more challenging. Also depression, anxiety, and personality disturbances have been associated with chronic marijuana use.

Your friend says she is only smoking a little weed, but even this amount is likely to lead to more frequent use. And she may be complicating things if as a result of her smoking, she falls behind in her schoolwork, loses motivation for things she once loved, or gets caught by her parents. If you can't talk to her about your concerns, try to convince your friend to talk to a trusted adult or seek medical help, so her depression and other concerns can be addressed as soon as possible.

A: Suicidiality has multiple sources, both psychological and biological. Evidence suggests that much of suicidal thinking is attributable to biological processes. Suicide is a symptom of depression. It is an indicator of how severe and serious your depression is. Somewhere around 20 percent of those with depression will commit suicide. It is a very serious symptom and warrants immediate medical attention.