Gary Zustiak

Adolescent drug use: Why do so many teens experiment with drugs? What do we need to know about the motivations behind it?  Case Studies of Adolescent Drug Use Karl[1] was a good looking, outgoing junior in high school when I met him. He was mature for his age and popular with the girls. His parents […]

Once you confirm that a young person is at risk, you must act immediately. Dr. Paul Quinnett has designed a very simple, but very effective, procedure to follow if you believe someone may be suicidal. The procedure is referred to as “QPR: Ask a Question—Save a Life.”[1] The initials QPR stand for: Question, Persuade, and […]

Most of the crisis intervention experts will maintain that in approximately 80% of all suicide attempts, the person who took their life gave definite, identifiable clues as to their intention. With this insight, youth workers can take a significant step towards suicide prevention by learning the warning signs. The concerned youth worker needs to be […]

There are a number of reasons why a teen might make a suicide attempt. The following are a summary of some of the most common.[1] To escape from an intolerable situation. It is important to note that “intolerable” might be anything in the mind of a developing adolescent. Any time a teen feels hopeless and […]

It is important to dispel some common myths about suicide. These myths have accumulated through the years and actually hinder people from becoming involved in the life of a person who is at risk. Myth #1: People who talk about suicide don’t commit suicide. Research in the St. Louis area found that 69% of those […]