Adolescent Substance Abuse

Adolescent drug abusers have unique needs stemming from underdeveloped or immature neurocognitive and psychosocial stages. Research demonstrates that the brain undergoes a prolonged process of development and refinement, from birth to early adulthood, during which a developmental shift occurs where actions change from impulsive to more reasoned and reflective. In fact, the brain areas most closely associated with aspects of behaviors like decision making, judgment, planning and self control, undergo a period of rapid development during adolescence. Adolescent drug abuse is often associated with other mental health problems including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder and conduct problems and depressive and anxiety disorders. The developmental period of adolescence makes the teen susceptible to physical and or sexual abuse and academic difficulties. Adolescents are especially sensitive to social cues. Peer groups and families are highly influential during this time. Therefore, treatments that facilitate positive parental involvement, integrate other systems in which the adolescent participates, such as school and athletics and recognize the importance of social peer relationships are very effective. Successful substance abuse treatment relies on access to comprehensive assessment, treatment, case management and support services that are developmentally, culturally and gender appropriate.

Urticaria

Urticaria, or hives, is a skin condition commonly caused by an allergic reaction, characterized by raised red skin wheals (welts). Hives are a skin-disease--itis or --uredo. Wheals from urticaria can appear anywhere on the body, including the face, lips, tongue, throat and ears. The wheals may vary in size from about 5 mm (0.2 inches) in diameter to the size of a dinner plate; they typically itch severely, sting or burn, and often have a pale border. Direct contact with an allergic substance or an immune response to food or some other allergen, causes urticaria, but it also appears for other reasons, notably emotional stress or innocent events, such as mere rubbing or exposure to cold.

Concierge Medicine

Concierge medicine goes by many names, boutique medicine, retainer medicine, executive health, VIP medicine, and personalized medicine. By any name, concierge medicine is the solution for doctors trying to maintain their integrity and independence in today’s difficult healthcare environment.Concierge medicine is a new style of practice with old roots, in which doctors limit their patient base in order to provide patients with personalized service, high quality care, 24-7 availability, and other amenities. In exchange for this enhanced personal attention, patients pay physicians an annual fee. This concierge fee enables physicians to increase their compensation while managing their workload. In addition to receiving an annual fee, most concierge physicians continue to receive reimbursements from health plans and private pay clients. Concierge medicine is a relationship between a patient and a primary care physician in which the patient pays an annual fee or retainer. This may or may not be in addition to other charges. In exchange for the retainer, doctors provide enhanced care. Other terms in use include boutique medicine, retainer-based medicine, and innovative medical practice design.The practice is also referred to as membership medicine, concierge health care, cash only practice, direct care, direct primary care, and direct practice medicine. While all concierge medicine practices share similarities, they vary widely in their structure, payment requirements, and form of operation. In particular, they differ in the level of service provided and the amount of the fee charged. There are an estimated 5,000 concierge, or membership medicine doctors throughout the U.S. Concierge physicians care for fewer patients than in a conventional practice. All generally claim to be accessible via cell phone or email at any time of day or night or offer some other special service beyond the normal care provided. The annual fees vary widely, from $600 to $5,000 per year for an individual, with the lower annual fees being in addition to the usual fees for each service and the higher annual fees including most services. Some concierge practices do not accept insurance of any kind. These are as cash-only or direct primary care practices. By refusing to deal with insurance companies, these practices can keep overhead and administrative costs low, thereby providing affordable healthcare to patients. They become concierge only if the practice assesses an annual or monthly fee instead of or in addition to a fee for each medical service. Other concierge practices do take insurance, even Medicare, but ask for an annual fee for additional services exclusive of insurance plans. This annual fee is not a substitute for medical insurance, and generally does not cover consultations outside the practice, laboratory procedures, medicines, hospitalizations, or emergency care from other providers.

Discourage Inactive Pastimes

Set limits on the amount of time spent watching TV, playing video games and being on the computer.
Help kids find fun things to do besides watching TV, like acting out favorite books or stories or doing a family art project. A child may find that creative play is more interesting than TV.
Children are good learners and they often mimic what they see. Choose healthy foods and active pastimes. Children will learn to follow healthy habits that last a lifetime.