Using alcohol or drugs during times of stress is the last thing a kid should be doing. But kids admitted to hitting the hard stuff when a parent was away on military deployment.

People that are dependent on marijuana may be using it to cope with a mental health disorder. Masking mental illness with weed can turn into dependence.

Alcohol has never been known to improve clear-headed decision making. For a person who is thinking about taking their own life, alcohol and medication can make a lethal combo.

The top causes of death in the US for people under 50 are not from disease. Extra caution while driving, saying no to drugs and leading a healthy lifestyle could go a long way to keep a person alive.

There is no doubt that pregnant women should not use meth. If they do, their babies could be at risk for underdeveloped brains and at future risk for mental disorders.

Regulators have relaxed rules on prescribing a medication used to treat opioid addiction, with the hopes that the move will help doctors successfully treat the condition in the United States.

Preventing substance abuse in teens needs to start early. Whether the message comes from school, from TV or the radio, teens need to know the risks involved with substance abuse.

More and more people have been tragically dying from painkiller overdoses. Healthcare professionals and public health organizations have started to take preventive actions.

Kids learn reading, writing and math in school. But it's rare that they're taught to cope with stress and peer pressure. Education could include these life skills to lower substance misuse and abuse.

If you're treating a teen for mental health, it's important to understand the big picture. The big picture includes how much they drink, smoke or use marijuana.