{"id":636471,"date":"2026-03-06T14:13:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T14:13:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/636471\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T14:13:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T14:13:17","slug":"what-houston-parents-should-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/636471\/","title":{"rendered":"What Houston parents should know"},"content":{"rendered":"

HOUSTON <\/strong> \u2013 As Houston-area families gear up for spring break, experts are sounding the alarm: the combination of free time and teen loneliness can be a dangerous mix.<\/p>\n

Bridget McCauley, Chief Clinical Officer at the Council on Recovery<\/a>, says that while spring break is supposed to be fun, it\u2019s also a time when substance use risk goes up.<\/p>\n

\u201cTeenagers are really looking to connect and frequently find that alcohol and drugs are a way to connect,\u201d she explains. \u201cWe really want to help them understand that connection doesn\u2019t have to come with a hangover, and there are other ways that we can have fun and still connect with friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

During spring break, parents may still be working while teens are home or out with friends. <\/p>\n

McCauley says it\u2019s not just the lack of supervision that\u2019s risky, it\u2019s what happens when teens feel alone and disconnected.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not just the isolation that is the challenge,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s more, how can we help people connect?\u201d<\/p>\n

That drive for connection can push teens toward parties, drinking, and experimenting with drugs, especially if they believe that\u2019s what everyone else is doing.;<\/p>\n

McCauley warns that using alcohol or drugs during adolescence doesn\u2019t just affect behavior in the moment; it can change the way the brain develops.<\/p>\n

Using substances \u201cwill actually disrupt the developing brain,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n

It interferes with normal brain development and fast-tracks the brain\u2019s pleasure system, so teens start looking for quick fixes to feel better.<\/p>\n

That puts them at higher risk for addiction. <\/p>\n

McCauley said research shows that about 70% of kids who try an illegal drug before age 13 are likely to develop a substance use disorder within seven years.<\/p>\n

McCauley urges parents to start conversations early and keep them going. The goal is to make talking about drugs, alcohol, and mental health a normal part of family life, not a one-time lecture.,<\/p>\n

McCauley calls increased isolation \u201cthe number one sign\u201d that a teen may be in trouble. That can look like:<\/p>\n