drug testing

Hindsight is always 20/20 and I want to share a creative strategy that I would have used to help my daughter Laura avoid that peer pressure and the difficult decision to begin using drugs when her brain and body were at their most vulnerable. My very good friend began drug testing his only son on a regular basis when he was in middle school. This is a great kid, standout athlete, good student, and has a good friend base. So, if there was no indication that he was using drugs or might use them, why implement drug testing and why do it so early?  Being proactive with a drug test strategy takes difficult choices off the table. One of my friends, a business professional in long term recovery, has used the strategy of testing his son for drugs, beginning in middle school. When he started this strategy, his son was young, had no indication that he was using or was even going down that path.He presented the testing as a "gift" to his son to take the burden of making the decision to use drugs off the table. His son could go to his friends, blame his dad for being not cool, and just let his friends know that he would be caught. This wonderful young man, graduating from high school this year, has thanked his mom and dad over and over again for the gift. Whether you are proactive and use drug testing as a preventative strategy or you are reacting to what you perceive is drug use by your child, here are some facts about drug testing you need to know.How long do drugs stay in your system? When someone uses pot or takes other drugs, the residual effects stay in your system for a period of time. If you are using the most common and least expensive testing strategy, urine testing, the amount of time those drugs stay in the system depend on the drug, the frequency of use, and your body type. For example, if you smoke pot once or only a few times a month, the test can look back over 1-2 weeks. More frequent use will keep THC in one's system for 1-2 months. Other substances like cocaine, opiates or meth will be detected for 2-5 days. If you really want a high level of accuracy and a much longer look back, a hair test vs. a urine test is the right choice. Ingesting drugs will transfer those substances right into the hair follicle and then into the strand. They stay there forever. Pull out a few strands of hair from the follicle and you can get a 100% accurate look back over a much longer period of time.How much does drug testing cost? The good news is that urine-based drug tests are very inexpensive, can be purchased at any drug store or ordered directly from Amazon. For example, Amazon sells a product called Easy@Home offering a 5 pack, 5-panel drug test for around $12. That's only $2.50 a test!. If you want to purchase a hair testing kit, those are also available on Amazon for about $65. Remember those don't need to be used that often, but can confirm the results of a urine drug test. What should your testing strategy be? Urine tests can be fooled with a number of strategies ranging from synthetic urine, someone else's urine, or cleansing techniques. If you are planning to test, make it random, do it in different bathrooms, and watch out for the child, like my daughter, who is determined to outsmart you. Takeaways If I had to do it over again and knowing that my daughter was at such high risk, I would have proactively started testing her before she entered high school. That might have taken some difficult choices off the table and might have bought her some time to have her brain develop just a little more. InterAct LifeLine InterAct provides technology for Virtual Care and Opioid Education Programs for use by treatment programs, state and local governments and non-profits.  Carolyn Bradfield founded InterAct LifeLine in 2018, shortly after her daughter overdosed and died. Visit InterAct

drug testing

My name is Georgia and I've lived a good life, but soon I will be crossing the Rainbow Bridge and joining my first human, Laura who left me some time ago. I'm in quite a bit of pain and my life is not happy anymore, so my family will help me go find Laura who I understand will be waiting for me. Before I go, I wanted to share some of my journey with Laura so you can see how her struggles became my struggles and her joy made me feel complete. How I Met LauraI was just a puppy when Laura and her friend Carl brought me home. That was a very confusing time for me because sometimes I was with Carl and sometimes Laura. Carl was older and his house made me lonely, but then I went to Laura's apartment, things were better. I soon realized that my job was to protect and comfort Laura because I saw her struggle with Carl who was not a nice man. One day, people came and took her away and I was left with Carl. But soon we got in a car, drove to Georgia and Laura and I were back together. Her Family Didn't Really Like MeLaura's mom thought I was still in Colorado and freaked out when she found me with Laura in her basement. I had never met her so I growled to let her know I was Laura's protector. I had no idea that I was a scary type of dog and heard Laura and her mom fight over me just being me. It was clear that I wasn't welcome there.I'm Going to College!Hurray!, Laura got into Kennesaw State, got her own apartment and brought me with her. I thought it was going to be so fun being a college dog, but I soon found out that my life was going to get crazy. You see, Laura was drinking and sticking needles in her arm and that made her different. I tried to be there for her, but ai just didn't know what to do. She was different then, left me alone a lot, yelled at me and wasn't happy. Carl and other men came over, but they weren't nice either and I did the best I could to stay ready to protect my human when she needed me. One day Laura left me locked in the bathroom and didn't come back for a long time. I was hungry and scared and knew she needed my help. Laura's family finally came, but Laura wasn't there. I later learned she was asked to leave college which made her so sad and was going to get help for the things she had been doing with the needles and the drinks.Laura Has a Brother!Laura had a brother, who knew! I had never met him, but Laura was gone and I got invited to stay at his house. I missed Laura, but life with Ross was calm and predictable and fun. There were no strange people coming in and out and I felt safe, but at the same time sad that my human was away and I didn't know if I would see her again. Ross had a house and a backyard where I could go and chase squirrels, sleep in the sun, or just hang out. He would come home and play with me and bring his friends over. They were so much nicer than the ones from the apartment and nobody yelled or used needles or made me feel like I needed to protect them.Reunited and It Felt So Good!Laura was away a long time, but she came back and I was so happy to see her. She looked good, was so happy and I just knew she would be my forever human again. But things didn't work out that way. I began to see different men than when we were in college, stayed at their houses in not so nice places, and I had such a hard time protecting her. I was scared because the men were mean to me. It seemed like this was going on forever, but soon Laura went away again.A New FamilyAll of a sudden I was back with Ross and believe it or not, there was another dog that looked a lot like me. His name is Fletcher and he's been my best friend for 8 years. I know he's going to miss me when I cross the Rainbow Bridge, but my forever family will take care of him.She's Back!Laura was gone for such a long time, but one day she came back to see me. Her visits were short and I came back to my forever family, to Fletcher, and to my backyard. I somehow knew that living with Laura again was not in my future as she went away and came back many times.Gone for Good!It was almost Christmas and Laura had not been to see me in a while. My family came home one day very sad and Ross tried to explain to me that Laura had crossed the Rainbow Bridge and wouldn't be coming back. He told me that she had done the scary thing that I saw back in college and although the smart people tried to save her, it wasn't enough. She was gone forever.My Time to GoI'm ready to cross the Rainbow Bridge because I know Laura is waiting for me. I'll miss my forever family and Fletcher. Laura needed me to protect her, but in the end, I couldn't save her and somehow, I knew that. I hope people will remember me and Laura and I will love and play and do all the things I missed so much. InterAct LifeLine InterAct provides technology for Virtual Care and Opioid Education Programs for use by treatment programs, state and local governments and non-profits.  Carolyn Bradfield founded InterAct LifeLine in 2018, shortly after her daughter overdosed and died. Visit InterAct

drug testing

This Mother's Day, I've been faced with the reality that for this Mother's Day and all others I will now be a "mother of 1". Losing Laura last year at age 29 has forever changed who I am as a mother and a person. When I'm asked, "how many children do you have?", I now have to change my answer to acknowledge that my nest is now half empty. People are now wondering how long it will take to "get over it", to move past the grief and return to the person I was before this happened. There is a simple answer to the question - who I am as a person has now been changed forever. I can never be, nor do I want to return to be that person again. Laura's death didn't happen to me, it happened to her. And it happened for me, not to me. It's now my job to make sure that Laura is remembered and that the pathway that lead to her death is a reminder and a lesson to help other girls and their mothers not walk down that same path. Grief has both a dark and light side The Dark Side Grief is a mysterious thing. You can be going about your day as normal, then something tugs at you. You see a picture of a cute outfit and think, "that would look good on her.". You hear a song that reminds you of your loss. You see others post about their daughters and granddaughters, descending you into waves of silent sadness.You are gripped with the reality that you will never hear her voice again, take her shopping, see how her day went, give her advice, or experience evolving to the next level of motherhood, friendship. People don't want to talk about it and just go on with their lives, and the flurry of people that remembered Laura after her death are disappearing. You worry that they will forget who she was, that she lived, had hopes for the future, and that she stood for something. It now falls to me alone to make sure that she is not forgotten.The Lighter SideAfter spending time trying to navigate through the darkness, I realize that the tunnel has lights that are guiding me in other directions. My son, whom I love deeply, has friends, a home, and a fiancée that will make a great life partner. Hopefully, he will experience fatherhood in the future allowing us to grow our very small family.I've also had the privilege of mentoring and caring for others when their parents were not there for various reasons. We've shopped together for prom dresses, wedding dresses, or just for fun. We've had deep conversations about things that matter. They have allowed me to step in and be part of their lives, filling a mother-like role, and although we may not be as frequently in touch, I get great joy at seeing the young men and women they've become. I've been able to be open about Laura's struggles and have had the gift of translating my thoughts into writing. As a result, a number of people who are struggling with addiction themselves, with their children and with their families have reached out to me for advice and counsel. It's only because of my journey with Laura that I can be in a position of privilege to give that advice. My Takeaway I will never be the "normal" I was before December, and I will never "get over it". However, I will be evolved, more purposeful, and more focused on the path that God has given me the privilege to now walk down. Yes, I'm forever a Mother of 1, but want to be a mother to quite a few more when they need the wisdom and guidance of a mother who is in a position to share it. InterAct LifeLine InterAct provides technology for Virtual Care and Opioid Education Programs for use by treatment programs, state and local governments and non-profits.  Carolyn Bradfield founded InterAct LifeLine in 2018, shortly after her daughter overdosed and died. Visit InterAct

Before I went through the experience with my daughter Laura, I concluded that drinking and using drugs was a series of poor choices that pointed to a weakness of character. However, the science behind how the brain functions, the statistics on the genetic link in those that become addicted, and the opinions of experts who have studied addiction has changed my mind on this issue. Having said that, the debate over whether addiction is a disease or choice is a hot topic among parents and loved ones who are trying to make sense over the path that their friend or family member is following in the pursuit of substances despite increasingly negative consequences. The Case for Disease One of the prime directives we have as parents is to be observant, recognize the signs that your child may be in trouble and find ways to intervene. Here are some things that you should be on the lookout for. When Alcoholics Anonymous was found in 1930, scientists and doctors paid attention to the factors that created the compulsion to use drugs and alcohol leading most of these professionals to conclude that addiction is truly a disease. The disease point of view focused on changes in the brain that occur with chemical dependency. Once these changes occur, choice is essentially no longer an option for most people. These same professionals pointed to other diseases like diabetes or cancer that have genetic risk factors, a factor in roughly 10 percent of the population. The view that addiction is a disease is shared by the American Medical Association, the American Public Health Association and the American Society of Addiction Medicine along with a host of neuroscientists, pharmacologists, and psychologists.The Case for ChoiceThere are those on the opposite side of the debate chemical dependency is a choice pointing to research that connects addictions to behavior. Because treating addiction revolves around modifying behavior, then professionals argue that addiction is a choice, not a disease. The point of view is that if we have no choice, then addicts can never recover.In an article published by ABC News, psychologist Jeff Schaler, author of Addiction Is a Choice, argues that people have more control over their behavior than they think. "Addiction is a behavior and all behaviors are choices," Schaler says. "What's next, are we going to blame fast-food restaurants for the foods that they sell based on the marketing, because the person got addicted to hamburgers and french fries?"The Middle GroundWhen an individual first decides to use substances, they clearly exercised their choice to do so. However, as the brain becomes rewired and the production of chemicals in the brain accelerates well beyond normal levels, that choice to continue drug use becomes overwhelming and uncontrollable. The brain has now entered a diseased state making treatment necessary, but difficult. Take a look at a common definition of disease: A condition that causes an interruption, cessation or disorder of the body, its system, or the way the organs function. Knowing that the brain is the most important organ in the body, the addicted brain has been interrupted and is no longer functioning in a normal way, a classic definition of disease. My TakeawayI am firmly in the camp that addiction is a disease that begins with a series of choices that compromise the brain's ability to function normally. The individual must make the choice to seek treatment and allow others to help them address the damage that has been done to the brain and allow the brain to heal and restore itself to a more normal state of functioning. Excluding the biology behind the addicted brain will often lead one to judge the afflicted person by focusing only on their behavior and not the disease state behind it. InterAct LifeLine InterAct provides technology for Virtual Care and Opioid Education Programs for use by treatment programs, state and local governments and non-profits.  Carolyn Bradfield founded InterAct LifeLine in 2018, shortly after her daughter overdosed and died. Visit InterAct

When my children were growing up, it appeared to me that my son really struggled while my daughter Laura excelled. He was diagnosed with ADHD at 5 years old, struggled in school, and went through a period where he was the target of bullying. My daughter Laura, on the other hand, was a solid student, had a good social IQ, had lots of friends and excelled in sports. To the family and perhaps the outside world she looked like "The Golden Child".What is a "Golden Child" ? I had the privilege of meeting with a "golden child", who is now an adult, struggling to recover from an opioid addiction, and beating himself up that he is no longer the paragon of excellence he was in high school. Everyone knows a golden child because his or her parents spend a lot of time lauding their accomplishments. They excel at everything from academics to sports. They have lots of friends and are the popular kid that everyone wants to be around. They don't cause trouble, obey their parents, are very respectful, charming and wonderful. Their parents look at their golden child and feel blessed and privileged. But sometimes that popular golden child is now the center of teenage partying, starts to lead the crowd as they steal liquor from their parents to have the cool party, then progress to pot and other drugs to liven up the crowd. But this particular golden child just happened to be that 1 in 10 who were genetically predisposed to addiction, and all of a sudden, their brain begins to rewire creating that uncontrollable desire to chase the high despite the risks.Life now starts to become more difficult as that golden child's grades begin to decline, their once proud parents start to notice the changes and begin jumping on top of their behavior in a way that they just have never experienced, and their friends start to distance themselves. They wake up one day, whether it's in high school or once they've gone to college, wondering what happened to that star student, athlete, popular kid, and achiever. They Had It All, So Why Give It All Up? Remember that once the process of addiction begins, the brain is now sending signals to seek out the substances that feed the pleasure center. The golden child would really like to go back to where he started, but he's likely lost control and because he's never really had to struggle before, his path back is much more difficult. In addition, they have generally defined themselves as other people see them, the "star student", the "good kid", the "quarterback", in the "popular crowd". Now that those things are gone, they are left asking themselves, "who am I, really?" And maybe being perfect is really hard work. Perhaps the golden child is trying to figure out who they are, how they feel about themselves, and feeling the pressure to perform. Sometimes drugs and alcohol offer an escape, a release, and freedom from having to perform all the time. And because the golden child is a performer and high achiever, they could be smart enough to hide their problem from their parents for years, so by the time an incident happens, the DUI, an arrest, or being kicked out of school, the disease has had time to fester and take hold.Once these changes occur, choice is essentially may no longer be an option for the "golden child". The golden child feels the shame of their disease much more acutely. Because of the social stigma of the disease of addiction, the golden child is forced to face their family and friends who just don't understand and who heap much more blame on them because they were after all, the golden child. "How could you do this to your parents?". "You were such a good kid, what happened to you?" Believe me, the golden child would like to be back on the podium, receiving the awards and have their parents brag about their accomplishments, so having criticism and disgust heaped at them is really much more painful than if they had never been a high achiever. My TakeawayParents need to understand that their "golden child" needs to be managed much more carefully. They should focus on being proud of the person their child is vs. relishing only in the accomplishments they can brag about to their friends. They should give their child the opportunity to face problems, work them out for themselves, and overcome obstacles without the parent putting the net up. They should be especially vigilant if they have a family history of addiction, and know that even though their child is golden, they may get the disease anyway. Remember, it's not just the screw-up, the bad kid, the kid from the ghetto that gets addicted, it could be your golden child. My daughter Laura was the golden child and now she's no longer with us. The child that struggled didn't have the genetic wiring for addiction, so he grew up, matured and overcame his issues to become the fine adult he was meant to be. InterAct LifeLine InterAct provides technology for Virtual Care and Opioid Education Programs for use by treatment programs, state and local governments and non-profits.  Carolyn Bradfield founded InterAct LifeLine in 2018, shortly after her daughter overdosed and died. Visit InterAct

My daughter Laura lived in our basement for the last 3 years of her life. To me, this was a sweet deal for her. She had a huge private space with a kitchen, a hot tub right outside her back door, a swimming pool to relax in and a private entrance to come and go as she pleased. However, to Laura that basement was one of the prisons that she was trapped in. The other was a constant and persistent state of depression and anxiety that she just couldn't seem to shake. The combination of fighting depression coupled with fighting addiction was a war that was very hard to win. And for people like me who haven't experienced depression, it's very difficult to understand the struggles of those that are in the throes of it. Addiction, Depression & Anxiety I've shared before that addiction is a disease, a brain disorder, that is triggered by substance use, but has its roots in a combination of genetic, biological, and behavioral factors. This can also be said of depression or anxiety. None of these diagnoses represent a flaw in your character. It is not something the person can just choose to snap out of and be happy or grateful. It's not a sign of laziness or weakness.When Laura dove into the deepness of depression, here is what happened to her. She felt hopeless, bad about herself, her anxiety increased, she slept a lot and just couldn't get out of bed and take a step forward. Naturally, she turned to substances to relieve those terrible feelings which only compounded the issue. Addiction & Depression It's very hard to deal with addiction by itself, but when you add depression to the mix as is often the case, the negative impact just multiplies. Look at the facts:Individuals diagnosed with depression have a 1in 10 lifetime risk of suicide.Individuals with both addiction and depression diagnoses increase their suicide risk to 1 in 4.The single biggest predictor of relapse in alcoholics is the presence of depression. Laura's father, David, was cursed with alcoholism his entire life, and that was coupled with depression. He never treated either in a meaningful way and when he turned 58 after he had lost everything, he shot and killed himself. I often wonder if Laura's death was not just from an overdose, but from a deliberate attempt to relieve the terrible pain and depression she felt. Fighting the War on Two Fronts The reality is that you cannot fight addiction and ignore the co-existing disorder of depression or anxiety. That strategy will virtually guarantee you limited to no recovery and a predictable cycle of relapse. If I had to redo everything, as I often wish I could, here are some things I would change. Talk more openly and non-judgmentally about how the person feels. Let them know that you may not be able to empathize, but you can certainly listen as they express their feelings. I didn't do this enough with Laura and that is a big regret that I now live with. Avoid telling the depressed person things like, "Why don't you just get up?", "Why don't you just call a friend?", "Why can't you just be happy?" That only makes them feel worse and compounds the problem.Consider a medication strategy early. Medication has the benefit of smoothing out the chemical reaction that is at the root of depression. If one drug doesn't work well, try another until you find the right combination. Taking medicine to help fight the disease is a sign of strength, not weakness. Find a good therapist qualified to help with both addiction and depression. It's important the person be able to talk about their feelings as they are progressing through their recovery process. My TakeawayRemember that depression and addiction are brain disorders with common roots. They should be treated as the disease they are and not viewed as a character weakness or simply laziness. Am I now or will I ever be depressed? Probably not. However, I have a new insight and understanding of those that are and just how complex a world they live in. It's so uncomfortable for those people to talk to their family and friends about how they feel without sustaining the judgment that they know will come. InterAct LifeLine InterAct provides technology for Virtual Care and Opioid Education Programs for use by treatment programs, state and local governments and non-profits.  Carolyn Bradfield founded InterAct LifeLine in 2018, shortly after her daughter overdosed and died. Visit InterAct

In January 2018, I wrote an article each day that focuses on the lessons I've learned from my daughter Laura who died from a drug overdose at age 29. She struggled with addiction for 15 years, an uphill fight for her and millions of others that often ends as hers did in a hospital room, connected to tubes, and slipping away from this world to the next. People affected or touched by addiction are all around you. The statistics from studies done 3 years ago give you a picture of what is happening in the United States, and certainly, the numbers are larger 3 years later.27 million Americans suffer from drug and alcohol addiction.In the age range of 12-17, 1.3 million teenagers or 1 in every 12 teens suffer from addiction.In the age range of 18-25, 1 in ever 6 individuals suffer from addiction. How can you tell? These addicted young people (and older people) are not all that obvious. They sometimes look like the addict that you would picture in your mind.....gaunt, dirty and with needle tracks in the arm. But more often they look like the people in the picture....Laura is on the right. When this was taken, she was already 3 years into the struggle. Can you tell just by looking?Individuals diagnosed with depression have a 1in 10 lifetime risk of suicide.Individuals with both addiction and depression diagnoses increase their suicide risk to 1 in 4.The single biggest predictor of relapse in alcoholics is the presence of depression. Then, I want you to consider the family members and friends who also struggle to try and help their loved one and whose lives are also turned upside down. If there are 27 million addicts, then take that number and multiply it by 5 or 6 to get a true picture of who has been affected. It's your co-worker, your neighbor, your vendor, your extended family who struggle to try and help the addict, who try and find treatment solutions, and whose lives are turned upside down. People affected by addiction are all around you. Who is at fault? And it's not uncommon for us to believe that if someone had only been a better parent, been tougher on drugs, had not enabled the behavior, that per- son wouldn't have become an addict or would have been "cured" by now. Nothing could be further from the truth. Addiction is a disease of the mind and the body's response to need and want the substance can start the first time one takes a drink, pops a pill, or smokes pot. It's very hard to treat as evident by the many, many treatment options that Laura tried with little to no long-term positive result. My TakeawayThe effects of addiction are not only devastating to the individual with the disease but profoundly impact those around them. So, the numbers tell you that it is all around you. And if you want to know how it impacts us all financially, the cost of addiction in terms of healthcare, fighting crime and lost work productivity is $740B a year.It's time for all of us to look more closely, to let people share their experiences without judgment, and realize that you need to be part of the conversation so we can use our creative minds and talents to address the epidemic on all levels. After all, it's all around you and very likely has already touched your friends, family, and co-workers. InterAct LifeLine InterAct provides technology for Virtual Care and Opioid Education Programs for use by treatment programs, state and local governments and non-profits.  Carolyn Bradfield founded InterAct LifeLine in 2018, shortly after her daughter overdosed and died. Visit InterAct

In January 2018, I wrote an article each day that focuses on the lessons I've learned from my daughter Laura who died from a drug overdose at age 29. She struggled with addiction for 15 years, an uphill fight for her and millions of others that often ends as hers did in a hospital room, connected to tubes, and slipping away from this world to the next.Over the last 2 days, I have revealed that my daugh- ter Laura struggled for 15 years with addiction and finally lost her battle on December 21st when she overdosed. For the month of January, I'm delivering a different article each day to raise awareness, start the conversation and finally create some calls to action for all of us. Addiction is a disease of the mind I've had a number of conversations over the years and several in the last 10 days about "addiction". It's amazing to me that we feel so conflicted about what we think it is and how to explain it to others. Here is my way of looking at it:Addiction is a disease of the mind that creates powerful urges to pursue the "substance" in the face of increasingly negative consequences. So, what is going on in the brain? According to Harvard Health, "Today we recognize addiction as a chronic disease that changes both brain structure and function. Just as cardiovascular disease damages the heart and diabetes impairs the pancreas, addiction hijacks the brain. This happens as the brain goes through a series of changes, beginning with recognition of pleasure and ending with a drive toward compulsive behavior." The brain responds to a pleasure stimulus by producing dopamine. In an addict's brain, the pleasure center speeds up, has a more intense release of dopamine, and then lays down the memory so that the brain creates a powerful urge to repeat that process. Drugs, in particular, provide a shortcut to flood the brain with dopamine. Over time, the brain develops a higher tolerance for the substance requiring the individual to use more and more of the substance, creating intense cravings and compulsive behavior. But isn't addiction really just a series of poor choices? To respond to the brain's desire for more and more pleasure stimulation, an addicted person will indeed begin to make poorer and poorer choices. However, the brain and its biology are powerful and extremely difficult to resist. Addicts will move heaven & earth and lie to those they love, disrupt their lives, lose their jobs and risk jail and even death to satisfy the signals the brain is sending to them.Can an addict recover?Absolutely! It's not enough to "just say no" to the substance. You have to give the brain something else that satisfies that pleasure center. Other interests, passion-ate causes, reaching out to others......and the list goes on and on. The next time you think about addiction and are tempted to view the person as weak, corrupt and damaged, consider the fact that this is a disease of the mind, not just a personal failing. InterAct LifeLine InterAct provides technology for Virtual Care and Opioid Education Programs for use by treatment programs, state and local governments and non-profits.  Carolyn Bradfield founded InterAct LifeLine in 2018, shortly after her daughter overdosed and died. Visit InterAct

In January 2018, I wrote an article each day that focuses on the lessons I've learned from my daughter Laura who died from a drug overdose at age 29. She struggled with addiction for 15 years, an uphill fight for her and millions of others that often ends as hers did in a hospital room, connected to tubes, and slipping away from this world to the next.We had a great vacation in Seaside, Florida when Laura turned 18. That's her brother Ross with her. But by that time, Laura was already 3 years into her battle with addiction. Does it surprise you that she was 15 when she starting using drugs and alcohol and already an addict? If so, let me give you the facts. The path to addiction starts early Nine out of ten people with substance addictions first begin using before they even turn 18. In fact, substance abuse before the age of 15 can make a person 6.5 times more likely to develop a full-blown substance use disorder later in life.  90% of people suffering with addiction began misusing substances before they left high school.What makes an adolescent so vulnerable to addiction? In another article, I shared that addiction is a disease of the brain where the pleasure centers react to the presence of a substance by producing high levels of dopamine. This kicks off cravings and compulsive behavior leading to more and more substance use. The brain is still developing During adolescence, the part of the brain that controls reasoning is growing and developing at a rapid pace; however, that process is not fully completed until the individual turns 25. The part of the brain that seeks pleasure indulges in compulsive behavior and takes risk is much more dominant during teenage years.As a result, teenage years are marked by the most risk-taking. Teens become impulsive, they misbehave and experiment outside of the boundaries and rules parents and teachers have set for them, This behavior is not as intentional as you think it might be. Their brains are telling them that the consequences don't really matter. Teenagers lack full control over their impulses. This period of brain development puts a teenager at increased risk for making poor decisions, one of those being experimentation with drugs and alcohol. Teenagers have dopamine levels that are really just flat which might explain how they get bored easily and want to try new things. When they choose to experi ment with drugs, the amount of dopamine released in their brain is actually much higher than that of adults. Repeat the drug use, seek out risky behavior and that teenager is going down the path to addiction. The brain is becoming rewired, but not in the way it was intended. My TakeawayDon't fool yourself into thinking that it's a natural part of growing up for your teenager to raid your liquor cabinet, smoke pot or experiment. It's like playing Russian roulette with their brain. 1 of 10 teenagers has the brain biology based on family history or other factors to accelerate down the path to addiction. In a future Lesson from Laura, I'm going to give you a simple strategy to take some of those choices off the table for your teenager until they get a little older, their brain has become more mature, and they are less vulnerable to bad wiring. Remember, Laura began her journey down the road of addiction at 15. Look at the picture. She was already 3 years down that path. InterAct LifeLine InterAct provides technology for Virtual Care and Opioid Education Programs for use by treatment programs, state and local governments and non-profits.  Carolyn Bradfield founded InterAct LifeLine in 2018, shortly after her daughter overdosed and died. Visit InterAct