Dr. Diana Martinez is a psychiatrist and neuroscientist who studies addiction. While her day job involves a Professorship at Columbia University, she is also a mom with two sons, and the statistics on drug use worried her.

The seminar, “Using Science to Talk about Drugs," by Dr. Diana Martinez, intends to provide information that can help parents have a frank, open conversation about drug use with teenagers, especially in the setting of legalization of cannabis and increased access. She’ll share information on the interaction between mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and ADHD, and drug use and how to reduce the risks of use. Following the seminar, Dr. Martinez will be available for questions.

Dr. Martinez will be presenting to two PMHS Health classes (periods 2 & 4) on March 12, and guiding PMHS Health educators in how to share this information directly with their other classes. Please join us to hear how she explains drug use to teens - a proven approach that describes risks that teens may not fully appreciate; what is happening in their brains when using drugs, and better ways to cope with their underlying reasons for using in the first place.

This presentation will take place by Zoom, and you must register to receive the Zoom link. The event is FREE to participate. Dr. Martinez will speak for approximately 45 minutes and allow 50 minutes for questions.