Youth at a Crossroads: the Intersection of Substance Use and Suicidal Ideation

Dr. Yifrah Kaminer, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Pediatrics with the Alcohol Research Center, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, joins us to discuss substance use disorders (SUD) and suicidal ideation among our nation’s youth, a worsening crisis that has started to extend to middle schoolers. Among the topics we discuss are:  Yifrah’s background, clinical experience, and his parallel life as an author of two children’s books and a play  the increase in depression since the 1990s, the rising depression, suicide and opioids epidemics.    the differences/similarities between passive and active planning re suicide.   legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes and its impact on opioid use among this cohort.  the need for awareness about the extent of the problem, as it often operates in the shadows; the importance of  access to services and prevention in schools; the risks faced by children living with drug-using parents.  how to address the issue through policy changes and CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy).  It's a large and growing problem, with many facets and drivers - there's no one better equipped to explain and dissect it  than Dr. Kaminer, who brings over 35 years of research and clinical experience in the field focusing on this cohort.