"Teen Substance Use and Mental Health Risks: What Parents Need to Know"

A new study from Massachusetts General Hospital and the University of Minnesota found that high school students who use alcohol, cannabis, or nicotine are at higher risk for mental health disorders, including suicidal thoughts, even at low levels of usage. Experts caution that the study doesn't account for the combined effects of multiple substances but emphasize the importance of addressing substance use, particularly in youth with mental health concerns. Parents are advised to start conversations about substance abuse early and take their child's expressions of suicidal thoughts seriously, seeking help from crisis hotlines if needed.