A TYPICAL BON FIRE MAY BE A TEENAGERS COVER UP FOR SUBSTANCE USE

Kaiya Tyler • July 7, 2020

CAMPFIRES

Now that it’s summer time, that means no school, warmer weather, bonfires and hangouts. Who doesn’t love a good campfire with s’mores, music, and friends? Some pre-teens and teenagers use bonfires as an excuse to get together and experiment with drinking and using different substances (vaping, marijuana and opioids to mention a few). Bonfires are the perfect time for teens to use substances because it is so easy to tell parents “I’m heading over to a friend’s house to hangout by the fire.”

WHERE AND WHEN?

Campfires can be held anywhere, any time. Usually these happen at a friend’s house or remote distances from their house. As the sun starts setting and the stars start to appear, that’s when the substances tend to come out. It is harder to see what is going on because of how dark it gets, making it easier to experiment or use substances. Because it is summer time, teenagers have all the freedom in the world to have these hangouts and bonfires any day of the week.

WHAT SUBSUBSTANCES ARE BEING USED AND HOW DO I KNOW IF MY TEEN IS INVOLVED?

Think of these summer night bonfires the same way you think of parties. The most common party favors are alcohol and marijuana. However, other substances can be involved. There are a vast variety of signs your teen can show if they’ve been using.


  • Behavioral changes: Teens may be quieter or act differently around family members.
  • They may be chewing gum or spraying perfume more often to cover up smells.
  • You may notice they may become sneakier.
  • Teens tend to pack an extra change of clothes to change into to eliminate any smells that could linger home.
  • They may be coming home later than usual or staying the night at friend’s house more often.

WHAT SHOULD I SAY/ASK MY TEEN IF I KNOW?

Communication is key. First, talk with your partner; make sure you both know what is happening. Having a group conversation is better than your teen having to listen to the same conversation multiple times. Make sure there is evidence and you know for certain there are substances being used before you talk to them. Your teen may argue and say that they have done nothing wrong, that they’ve never done drugs or have had alcohol.


Be kind and patient with your child. Ask direct questions. Arguing and yelling will not help the confrontation. It may make your teen more likely to want to use substances as a way to cope with the anger/frustration. Educate them about the effects these substances have and what could happen if it is abused.


Even if your teenager hasn’t used any substances, you can still have the talk with them. Educate them about the negative effects and the trouble that they can get into. Teens who abuse drugs and alcohol at a young age may have a greater risk of addiction in later years. Let them know they don’t need substances to fit in or to be “cool.” Perhaps, and hopefully, it can help persuade them not to use drugs and alcohol and how you don’t need substances to have a good time.


Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health’s (C&A) Gemini Program helps teens who are struggling with substance issues. Two groups within the program – Alternatives and Decisions – provide different levels of assistance. Alternatives is an education-based program aimed at young adults who are experimenting with substances. Decisions is a more intensive-based form of help that includes individual and group sessions.


If you suspect your young adult is using substances, please call C&A at 330-433-6075. C&A’s Gemini Program Manager Dr. Karita Nussbaum provided some of the content for this post.

RECENT POSTS

Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health

CHILD AND ADOLESCENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC AFFILIATION WITH GOODWILL INDUSTRIES TO STRENGTHEN YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACROSS STARK COUNTY

By Daniel Mucci • January 16, 2026
CANTON, Ohio (Jan 16) – Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health (C&A) announced today a strategic affiliation with Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio, Inc. (Goodwill). The affiliation reflects a shared commitment to strengthening community-based services and ensuring long-term stability for children, adolescents, and families across Stark County. This affiliation brings together two mission-driven nonprofit organizations that serve many of the same individuals and families. C&A’s clinical expertise in youth behavioral health will be supported by Goodwill’s established administrative and operational infrastructure, allowing both organizations to advance their missions while remaining focused on the communities they serve. “Youth mental health needs continue to grow across our community,” said Melissa Coultas, Chief Executive Officer of Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health. “This affiliation allows us to strengthen our operational foundation while preserving who we are. Our mission, our services, and our commitment to Stark County remain unchanged, and this partnership allows us to reinvest resources into care and into our staff.” As part of the affiliation, C&A will maintain its designated 501c3 status and operate as an affiliate program of Goodwill. C&A’s name, mission, programs and local leadership remain in place. Clinical services will continue without disruption. Select administrative functions will transition to a shared services model supported by Goodwill. “At Goodwill, our mission is to strengthen communities by helping people overcome barriers,” said Anne Richards, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio. “This affiliation reflects Goodwill’s commitment to supporting vital local programs and ensuring C&A can continue delivering trusted, lifechanging mental health services to Stark County families for years to come.” C&A will retain its own Board of Directors and leadership team. Goodwill will serve as the corporate member and provide shared administrative services in areas such as human resources, information technology, and financial operations. “This was a thoughtful, mission-centered decision by the Board,” said Casey McCloud, Board President of Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health. “It strengthens C&A’s longterm sustainability while preserving local oversight and ensuring continued access to critical services for children and families.”

Talking to Children and Adolescents about Violence

By Mary M. Kreitz • September 12, 2025
It seems to be happening all the time – school shootings, violent attacks at public events, celebrities and public figures being attacked or even killed. When things like this happen, it usually shows up on the television and the internet, people post about it on social media, and people talk about it with others around them. Children and adolescents find out, and they may come to you wanting to talk or to ask you questions. How should you handle it? These are difficult but important conversations to have. Here are some tips for talking with children and teens about violent events.

Same Mission, New Places: Empowering Stark County’s Youth for the Next 50 Years

By Melissa Coultas • June 30, 2025
For 50 years, we have stood shoulder to shoulder with Stark County’s children and families, helping them grow, heal and thrive through every challenge. Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health (C&A) is a leading nonprofit here in Stark County, but many are unaware of the significant number of lives we touch every day. We are working to change that and find people in the community ready to help us build the next 50 years of hope for Stark County youth. We serve more than 4,000 kids each year by providing mental health services: a person to talk to, a mentor to help them grow, a place where kids with trauma can go to school and a place to hear a voice of reason where no one is turned away because of income.
Red and white megaphone with yellow sound effects, angled to the right.

CHILD AND ADOLESCENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AWARDED THREE GRANTS TO STRENGTHEN YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

By Daniel Mucci • May 19, 2025
CANTON, Ohio (May 19) – Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health (C&A) has been awarded more than $217,000 in new grant funding from six community-focused foundations and agencies to enhance service delivery, support families, and improve internal operations across Stark County.  The grants—awarded by the Health Foundation of Greater Massillon, Massillon Rotary Foundation, North Canton Medical Foundation, United Way of Greater Stark County, the SummerTime Kids program, and the Roy H. Powell and Nina B. Powell Family Charitable Fund—reflect continued community investment in C&A’s mission and momentum. “These contributions help us strengthen the systems that support the mental health of our community’s youth,” said Melissa Coultas, CEO of Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health. “They ensure our team is equipped, our services remain accessible, and our families feel supported.”

SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER

By Mary M. Kreitz • November 21, 2024
For many people changes in the seasons also bring changes in mood, energy, sleep, weight and appetite. Some researchers have found that as many as 90% of people report noticing these types of changes in themselves. However, for some people, the changes are so intense that they interfere with the person’s ability to function in their daily life.  Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is a type of clinical depression that occurs with a consistent seasonal pattern. The symptoms of SAD are the same as those for other depressive disorders; what is different is that the symptoms begin every year around the same time, last for several months, and then go away for the rest of the year. The most common form of SAD is what is known as winter-pattern SAD in which depressive symptoms start in the fall or early winter and end in the spring. Another less common form is known as summer-pattern SAD and is associated with depressive symptoms that occur during the spring and summer months and improve in the fall.

ELECTION ANXIETY

By Mary M. Kreitz • November 6, 2024
The 2024 election has brought a lot of fear and stress into the lives of people throughout the country. A recent survey by the American Psychological Association found that 77% of adults in the US are worried about the future of the nation, 73% reported feeling stressed out about the economy and 69% reported feeling stressed about the presidential election. When adults are feeling this high of a level of stress, you can bet that children and adolescents are feeling it too.

TRUSTED ADULT

By Daniel Mucci • October 1, 2024
Are you a trusted adult to your child or someone’s child in your life? What are the characteristics of a trusted adult?  Trusted adults are viewed by children or adolescents as a safe figure that listens without judgment, agenda or expectation, but with the sole purpose of supporting and encouraging positivity within a young person’s life. Today’s youth identify a trusted adult as someone who is willing to listen and engage, rather than lecture and give orders. Young adults are interested in having open conversations about mental health, social media, bullying and sharing their own experiences.

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

By Daniel Mucci • September 9, 2024
Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health’s (C&A) The Canton Repository Let Your Light Shine presented by the Massillon Eagles FOE #190 is Sept. 21 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Canton, from 6-9 p.m. The 19th annual event supports the youth mental health programs and services C&A provides each year to our 4,100 clients.

WHY PRIDE MATTERS FROM A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVE

By Mary M. Kreitz • June 18, 2024
You have probably heard the scary statistics. LGBTQ+ youth are at higher risk for serious mental health problems (such as anxiety and depression) than their non-LGBTQ+ peers. They’re more likely to consider suicide, more likely to attempt suicide and more likely to engage in non-suicidal self-harm.
More Posts