Mark Hobbins Consults for The Tyra Banks Show's Teens on the Edge Feature

Mark Hobbins, Senior Vice-President of Aspen Education Group, consults with the Tyra Banks Show to offer help to three teens whose out-of-control behavior and addictions threatens to derail their futures.

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (PRWEB) May 19, 2007 -- With over 20 years experience working with young people, Mark Hobbins understands the teenage mind and how bad choices can have costly consequences. As Senior Vice-President of Aspen Education Group (www.aspeneducation.com), the world's largest and most comprehensive network of therapeutic schools and programs for troubled youth and their families, he witnesses first hand how binge drinking, drug abuse and out-of-control behavior affects teens in a crucial stage of their development. He recently consulted with The Tyra Banks Show to offer help to three teens whose addictions threatened to derail their futures.
   
Terra's abuse of alcohol and drugs has reached crisis proportions. Her mom recounts an experience where she found her daughter passed out on the floor, choking on her own vomit. She also admits to being raped while drunk at a party. Rico's drug of choice is the rush of adrenaline he feels when putting his life on the line to perform "Jackass"-style stunts. He hopes to achieve fame and a good laugh by putting his and his friends' lives on the line by jumping off of rooftops and setting fires. Victoria, the third teen profiled, gets her kicks by binge drinking. She claims to be an "invincible drinker" and often hands over the keys to intoxicated friends.
   
While each teen featured on the program suffers from specific problems with addiction, low self-esteem and out-of-control behavior, it's obvious that they also have many attributes in common. Tyra show expert Dr. Drew comments on how Terra, Rico and Victoria are each headed down a slippery slope unless they take responsibility for changing the course of their lives. "From the ages of 15 to 21 (sometimes as early as 13), the front (pre-frontal cortex) part of the adolescent brain stops working for 'remodeling'. This part of the brain houses the ability to contain impulses, project consequences and judgment."
   
According to Dr. Drew, "It is incumbent on parents to be the bridge between their teenagers and the ability to consider consequences," and Hobbins couldn't agree more. "Many parents simply don't know how to handle their teen's rebellious behavior, so they check out and leave their children to navigate the mine field of drugs, alcohol and recklessness alone. When there's a problem with a teen, it's a family problem and parents need to get involved."
   
Hobbins' participation in the recent Teens on the Edge program was one of several appearances on The Tyra Banks Show in which he has been asked to bear witness to his experience as father and pioneer in the development of therapeutic programs for troubled youth. In addition to his role at Aspen, Hobbins serves on the Board of Directors for the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Industry Council and the National Association of Therapeutic Wilderness Camps. Mark also serves on the national colleague panel for the Council on Accreditation. He has written and lectured extensively on the challenges of maintaining a healthy family and raising teens in today's society. Hobbins and his wife Diane are the proud parents of seven children.

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