Middle school can feel like a blur for many parents. New schedules, new friend groups, and suddenly your once-chatty kid answers in one-word texts. It is also, according to prevention experts, one of the most important windows for talking about substance use seriously. What are those? How to prevent them and deal with your children? … Read more
Because whippets (nitrous oxide/N₂O) are increasingly appearing in corner stores, gas stations etc. and are ever-evolving, CANDLE, Inc. maintains this article as a resource for parents, prevention professionals and communities encountering the problem. We will continue to add important research, news and legislative developments while preserving the timeline of how one community confronted the problem … Read more
I want to tell you about something that keeps me awake all night. Back in 2003, when I started Reality Tour, the enemy had a face. It was heroin addiction flooding the streets in Butler, Pennsylvania. Parents could see it. They could name it and make their children aware of it. Today, another enemy fits … Read more
A journalist and mother of three shares what happened when her family attended Reality Tour — and why, more than a decade later, her kids are still making the right choices
There is a moment many parents experience quietly, when something about their child feels slightly different, but just enough to create a sense of discomfort that is difficult to explain in clear words. The talks become remote, habits change in some subtle manners, and the vitality that used to be so familiar to us gradually … Read more
Retail outlets like gas stations are selling products that contain manufactured drugs – even some acting like opioids in some products, like caffeine shots, vapes, drinks, pills and more.
“TeenBrain-itis”: 5 Signs Your Teen Might Have It (and How to Treat It!) By Norma Norris | CANDLE, Inc. / Reality Tour® Teens need to understand their brain development Wait — Your Teen Did What Now? If your tween or teen just made a baffling or hilarious decision, don’t panic. It may not be attitude … Read more
During their teenage years, kids can push boundaries as they develop into adults. As teens move towards independence, it’s important for parents and caregivers to encourage children to explore and expand their experiences safely. At this time in life, their brain is wired for risky behavior and that must be safely channeled. Sometimes, teens turn … Read more
The DEA issued a national alert for the deadly drug Xylazine, an animal tranquilizer, that has entered the illegal drug supply. Sometimes referred to as tranq, the drug is paired with fentanyl in clandestine labs that mainly produce fake pills. Fentanyl is the drug that has been pushing the overdose death rate skyward to 109,000 … Read more
Caffeine may be the first thing on your mind when you wake up. Whether you down a cup of java or reach for a Coca Cola, many count on the first beverage of the day to power through morning brain fog. Energy drinks and those energy shots at your local convenience store can easily become … Read more