You may have heard the term “gas station heroin” and wondered what it means. The name sounds scary, and it’s meant to be. “‘Gas station heroin’ refers to a growing group of products that look harmless but can affect the brain in powerful ways,” said Dr. Laura Markley, child and adolescent psychiatrist and addiction medicine physician. “They’re often sold at […]
Addiction Services
Binge gaming in kids: Warning signs and how parents can help
For many kids, gaming is a normal part of childhood and adolescence. It can be social, creative and fun. But when gaming stretches into marathon sessions, it can begin to affect sleep, mood and school performance in ways that are easy to miss. Dr. Laura Markley, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist […]
Your most common questions about fentanyl
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is much stronger than morphine or heroin. The term fentanyl can refer to a medication used safely in hospitals, an illegally made drug found in counterfeit pills or fentanyl-like substances that can be even stronger. While pharmaceutical fentanyl has important medical uses, illicitly manufactured fentanyl is often hidden […]
Mental health therapist finds purpose at Akron Children’s
A recent graduate of Kent State University’s master’s program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a new member of the Akron Children’s Addiction Services team, Victoria Falluco brings a passion for helping others and a personal connection to her role as a substance use and mental health therapist. Victoria’s own experiences with bullying during her […]
Is your child suffering from a behavioral addiction to technology?
When you hear the word addiction, many parents immediately think of cigarettes, and drug and alcohol abuse. But, there is a wide range of compulsive behaviors that kids can excessively use to the point of disrupting their daily lives. For some families today, parents are seeing an out-of-control attachment to technology use, such as compulsive […]
