is a child and adolescent psychiatry fellow at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

Hannah Simon, MD

, about her innovate approach to drug use among teenagers. Avoiding old-fashioned scare tactics, Martinez talks to students and their parents about the neurological effects of substances like cannabis and alcohol. Could scientific education be a key protective factor against addiction?

The rising rate of teen cannabis use and its potential causes.

The effects of smoking marijuana on brain development.

How other psychiatric illnesses can lead to substance abuse disorders.

How to talk to teenagers about substance use—without being overbearing.

Distinguishing between experimental and problematic substance use.

Thanks to Columbia University Department of Psychiatry for allowing us to present the Caring for Teens and Tweens podcast with experts in the field of psychiatry.

Podcasts

Scare tactics don’t work. But scientific education might. Here are tips for talking with teenaged patients about keeping themselves and their friends safe. 

How to Talk to Teenagers About Substance Use

, Hannah Simon, MD, introduces a new series on teen and tween mental health. Her first guest is Andrew Chen, MD, MS, the chief medical officer for USA Nordic, the national leadership organization for Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping in the United States. They discuss the importance of mental wellbeing for peak athletic performance, the programs available for Olympic athletes, and how health care providers can help students succeed—in everything from the big game to the big test.

- Dr Chen’s path from medical school to the Olympic Games

- Simone Biles and fighting the stigma surrounding mental illness

- The mental health challenges facing school-aged children during the pandemic

- The importance of diet and nutrition for athletic performance and mental wellbeing

- 5 personality attributes that Olympians share (and what psychiatrists can learn from them)

What can Olympians teach mental health professionals about caring for student athletes—and others too? 

Hannah Simon, MD

Articles

How to Talk to Teenagers About Substance Use

5 Personality Traits of Olympic Athletes