Since my practice is located within a family medical practice where I act as a behavioral health consultant, I read with interest, and posted a comment on the article's website, about the following article:

Health Highlights: Nov. 19, 2010 - US News and World Report

What's very encouraging is that primary care medicine has begun to recognize the value of integrating mental health consultants into their practices. On-site psychologists in primary care practices, serving as behavioral health consultants/resources, when added to traditional medical staff/team helps to ease patient access to oft-needed counseling or psychotherapy.

As a psychologist located within a family medical practice, I see first-hand how the stigma associated with seeking mental health is reduced by my presence in the practice, and how the coordination of care between mental and physical health increases the likelihood of improvement in physical health.

The following article from U.S. News and World Report isn't a surprise to me.

It confirms what we already know from research over the past 15 years about the effects of substances on the developing child's brain. The kids I see in my practice usually focus on the idea that "it's only pot" and/or "it's not addicting" (not true, but that's another topic for another time). They don’t acknowledge any effects on their own brain development.

Parents who may have smoked marijuana when they were growing up may be conflicted about their own experience and knowledge of whether marijuana really is harmful. Marijuana use in our culture has become more accepted, aided in part by the recognized medicinal uses of marijuana. As a parent, what’s important is to be able to offer kids accurate, unbiased information like this when we discuss the choices our children make today.

We've come a long way from "Just say no"!

By the way, the “executive functions” that the article refers to are the same brain information processing skills that are impaired by ADHD. US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT ARTICLE

The thought of your teenager getting high is scary.

“My kid?”

When you say those two words to yourself, you don't want to believe that your child could be involved in using drugs or alcohol, but you also don't want to ignore the possible early warning signs. So what do you do? We are often so worried that we become immobilized and lose sight of one of the basics of human communication:

WE ASK THEM….

If you think your child is drinking or using drugs, the most important thing to do is to come right out and ask. Research suggests that when we talk openly about drugs and drinking, children are more likely to have better self-control and develop more negative perceptions about these risky behaviors. The work you put into opening up lines of communication now can make all the difference in the future.

Some tips for how to ask:

1. Begin by preparing: