Show notes
Dr. Josh King welcomes you to another episode and a new season of The Beyond Addiction Show. The global COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on everyone and has caused an alarming rise in substance use among adults, but what about our adolescents? has the increased time at home around their parents prevent them from using substances?
Today, Dr. King is accompanied again by Dr. Shannon Caspersen who is an adolescent psychiatrist, to talk about the impact that COVID-19 has had on adolescents' substance use. In today's episode, Dr. Caspersen walks us through a case so you get to look at it through the eyes of a psychologist.
Key Takeaways:
[2:18] Did adolescents' alcohol and substance use decrease as a result of the pandemic?
[3:26] How did adolescents find their way to get drugs?
[4:18] What is driving the adolescents' use at this point of the pandemic?
[5:37] The role of academic stress on adolescents' substance use.
[6:38] There has been a rise in anxiety in general since the strike of COVID-19.
[7:48] The challenges of the remote learning experience.
[8:30] Dr. Caspersen explains what a case presentation is about.
[10:45] Dr. Caspersen presents a very typical case of adolescent substance use.
[13:37] The benefits of being diagnosed with ADHD: medication and extra time for tests.
[15:05] Dr. Caspersen talks about the subculture of stimulants as performance-enhancing medication even though the data does not support this concept.
[18:20] Cannabis used to treat sleeping problems.
[19:04] The perceived pros of marijuana use for an average adolescent.
[21:47] ADHD is associated with substance use.
[24:08] Dr. Caspersen describes marijuana withdrawal symptoms: nausea, anxiety, excessive sweating, and even fever.
[26:10] Dr. Caspersen talks about the many ways that adolescents find to get drugs.
[28:43] A high use of marijuana can cause ADHD-like symptoms.
[30:15] Exploring the negative sides of using marijuana.
[31:14] Dr. Caspersen talks about contingency management: behavioral rewards and consequences that parents can provide to their adolescents struggling with drug use.
[34:01] Dr. Caspersen extends her suggestion to all parents who have their children at home: Take advantage of this time to get to know your kids' behaviors.
[36:30] COVID-19 has set boundaries that parents have difficulty imposing on their children.
[37:44] Parents have to model the behaviors that they expect out of their children.
[41:43] Why are case studies so useful?
Mentioned in this Episode:
The Beyond Addiction Show
Center for Motivation and Change
Center for Motivation and Change on Facebook
Center for Motivation and Change on Twitter
Center for Motivation and Change on Linkedin
Email Dr. Josh King at beyondaddiction@motivationandchange.com or tweet him at @DocJoshKing
Learn more about Dr. Shannon Caspersen
Dr. Shannon Caspersen on Twitter
Dr. Shannon Caspersen on Instagram
Tweetables and Quotes:
"Adolescents usually don't deal directly with a dealer, but get the drugs from a friend that can have contact with another friend who deals with the dealer." @_TheCMC @DocJoshKing
"Adolescents are more dependent on substances than what they or their parents realized." @_TheCMC @DocJoshKing
"In regards to academics, since the pandemic has started, it is absolutely harder to stay engaged and feel that you know where you stand in the remote learning experience." @_TheCMC @DocJoshKing
"Adolescents tend to think that if they take stimulants they would perform better on exams, even though research does not support this idea." @_TheCMC @DocJoshKing
"People who have a diagnosis of ADHD are more prone to substance use." @_TheCMC @DocJoshKing
"High use of marijuana can cause ADHD-like symptoms." @_TheCMC @DocJoshKing
"Get the time to know your kids' behaviors." @_TheCMC @DocJoshKing
"Parents have to model the behaviors that they expect out of their children." @_TheCMC @DocJoshKing
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
Stay Connected
