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According to data released by the White House's Office on National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), popular websites contain user-generated content that exposes youth to violence and substance abuse. The ONDCP recently completed a study of such sites, and has compiled data indicating that behaviors shown on these websites can be extreme, including drug and alcohol use, self-mutilation, severe violence, and anorexia and other eating disorders. In addition, "most parents are unaware of the nature and extent to which their children are exposed to or engaging in dangerous behaviors online."

A study conducted by Nielsen Online, on behalf of the ONDCP, during June 2008 tracked the online viewing habits of teens, including their exposure to drug-related content. The study found that approximately 5 percent of teens are viewing drug-related content and that one-third of those are under the age of 16.

ONCDP Director John Walters commented on the situation: "... research shows parents aren't worrying about drug, alcohol, and other dangerous content online and how it impacts their child's behavior. ... Teens, tweens, and even younger children, are barraged by risky material on the Internet. Parents need to get online and see for themselves what their child has access to. It's time for them to upgrade their parenting skills." (Source: www.prweb.com)

Labels: violence, influences, exposure

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According to an article published on the local news website for Wabash Valley, Illinois, teen drug and alcohol abuse has increased over the past year. The data come from the Body Electric Coalition, which conducted a study of teen behavior in East Central Illinois. The findings contradict the 10-year trend, which shows an overall decrease in alcohol and drug abuse. In addition, use of one significant substance - methamphetamine - is down from the past year.

The director of the Body Electric Coalition commented on the recent increase and related behaviors: "By and large drug use over the ten years have gone down as have alcohol and tobacco use...[however] we're also finding that violence, teen dating abuse, pregnancy, and those issues that have to do with teen sexuality are also on an uprise. (Sources: www.mywabashvalley.com)

Labels: behaviors, abuse, teen-addiction

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According to an article appearing this week in the Boston Globe, a disturbing number of students in rural Vermont are abusing alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs. Contrary to the state's idyllic image of pristine farmland and healthy living, concerns are growing regarding youth drug and alcohol abuse.

According to recent data from the United States Health and Human Service Department, Vermont had the highest and second-highest rates of teen alcohol use and binge drinking, respectively. These rankings also represent a significant increase as compared to data from 2005-2006, in which Vermonters were ranked eighth in those categories.

Locals believe that denial has played a large part in the fact that this problem has not been addressed sooner. Lori Augustyniak, executive director of the Cabot Coalition (a nonprofit organization against substance abuse), commented: "There's denial among all ages. ... The feeling is, we do live in this idyllic, wonderful place, and it's not possible that this is going on." (Source: www.boston.com)

Labels: underage-drinking, students

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A west Texas group, the Permian Basin Regional Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, recently received a grant from the State for $39,000 to help combat teen use of chewing tobacco. According to an article appearing on the website of a local news station, Texas teens are using chewing tobacco at alarming rates, and on average they are starting by age 13. Vella Connley, a representative of the council, commented:

"Everybody talks about lung cancer and smoking cigarettes, but this is just as deadly. ... I can tell you in Ector and Midland County, 20% of the population does use tobacco." (Source: www.newswest9.com)

Labels: tobacco, prevention

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A new study from the Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Problems indicates that teens are, on average, less likely to use marijuana and are spending less time out with friends. The study examined survey responses from over 93,000 15-year-olds in 31 European and North American countries. Researchers noted a decrease in marijuana use in most of the 31 countries, though a few countries did report increased levels of use. Countries showing the largest increases in use included England, Portugal, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Canada. Marijuana use also increased among 15-year-olds in Estonia, Lithuania, Malta, and among Russian girls.

The average number of nights spent out with friends decreased in most countries. In the United States, the rate fell slightly to two nights per week for both males and females. Significantly, researchers noted a link between more nights spent out and greater use of marijuana. The researchers hypothesize that parent disapproval of marijuana drives teens to use only when they are away from home. (Sources: www.redorbit.com)

Labels: pot, smoking

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The Illinois Meth Project recently released the results of the 2008 Illinois Meth Use & Attitudes Survey. The results show that teens in central Illinois are more aware of the dangers of first-time methamphetamine (meth) use. Over half (53 percent) of teens reported seeing "great risk" in trying meth, which is a 7 percent increase over the 2007 results.

Other perceptions also changed over the past year. The percentage of teens who agreed that trying meth just once can result in getting hooked increased from 76 percent in 2007 to 88 percent in 2008. Teens also acknowledge other meth-related risks in greater numbers than last year: dying (68 percent in 2007, 76 percent in 2008), stealing (74 percent, 81 percent), having unwanted sex (75 percent, 83 percent), tooth decay (65 percent, 74 percent), poor hygiene (71 percent, 79 percent), or turning into someone they don't want to be (81 percent, 88 percent). (Source: www.carmitimes.com)

Labels: meth, awareness

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A new campaign is being launched this month is Nassau County, Florida, to promote the efforts of support parents, retailers, and community members to keep teens from drinking. The campaign is being initiated by the Nassau Alcohol, Crime and Drug Abatement Coalition, in partnership with Nassau County Public Schools, the Nassau County Sheriff's Office, the Fernandina Beach Police Department, Sutton Place Behavioral Health, the Nassau County Health Department, and others. The campaign operates from the idea that underage drinking is the single most preventable at-risk behavior among teens.

Susan Woodford, chairman of the coalition, comments on the new campaign: "Underage drinking is about access. & If our teens cannot get their hands on it, they cannot use it. We are asking all community members to help us limit access to alcohol once and for all."

According to the 2008 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, 35 percent of the high school students who responded reported drinking within the past month and of that number, 22 percent called themselves binge drinkers.

(Source: www.jacksonville.com)

Labels: parents, teen-drinking

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Beginning this week, Temecula, California, will be hosting a weekly parenting class. The class will last a total of 11 weeks. The class is a collaboration of the Safe Alternative for Everyone (SAFE) program, the Temecula Police Department, the Riverside County District Attorneys Office, and the Youth Accountability Team (YAT). The class is designed to address a variety of issues to help parents learn to understand their teens. A primary goal is to help parents learn to communicate effectively with their teens and to help their teens avoid negative behaviors, including drug use.

June Earley, Family Care Coordinator for SAFE, explains the course's goal: "We want to show parents how to be supportive. Each course will focus on a certain subject and use a basis of trust to create a lasting relationship with your teen. Trust works both ways. The program will focus on teaching your teens the long-term consequences of gangs, alcohol and drug abuse as a way to curb that kind of behavior."

(Sources: myvalleynews.com)

Labels: parents

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The Washington State legislature is considering a proposal to institute a prescription medication take-back program. The program would provide a safe means for individuals to return unused portions of prescriptions to authorities to be disposed of safely. Currently, unused prescriptions are most often left in medicine cabinets, bathrooms, and even junk drawers. With the recent national rise in the abuse of prescription drugs by teenagers, the fate of these unused prescriptions has become a public concern.

Recent national surveys have suggested that the vast majority of teens who use prescription medications for recreational purposes obtain these dangerous drugs from their own homes, the homes of friends, or from family members and friends. The apparent success of a currently running pilot program, involving 25 Seattle-area health facilities and a chain of local pharmacies, inspired the proposal to the state legislature.

(Source: seattlepi.nwsource.com)

Labels: prescription-drug-abuse

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Middle and high school-age youth in Peabody, Massachusetts, will be taking a new survey aimed at curbing teen substance abuse. The survey, which teens will take anonymously, asks questions about a variety of topics, including eating habits, drug and alcohol use, suicide, and for older students, sexual orientation. The survey, which takes about 40 minutes to complete, will be taken by students during school on January 28. In particular, area officials expect to utilize the collected data to identify strategies for limiting teen access to alcohol. The survey is being funded by a grant from the Massachusetts State Department of Public Health's Bureau of Substance Abuse Services.

Sara Grinnell, executive director of the Healthy Peabody Collaborative, commented on the intent of the survey, saying, "We're looking to change the whole environment, to make it difficult for children to access alcohol."

(Source: www.salemnews.com)

Labels: teen-substance-abuse

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Kim Obert lost her son in 2003 to a fatal overdose of the prescription painkiller OxyContin. Now, the Arizona mom has become a spokesperson, warning parents about the dangers of a new national teen trend: "pharming parties." At these parties, middle and high school children raid their parents' medicine cabinets and then pool their findings. The youth then take random handfuls of these potent, often highly addictive and dangerous, pills.

Amazingly, many teens believe that because these drugs are prescribed by doctors, they are safer for recreational use than typical street drugs like heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamines. What teens don't know, however, is that many prescription drugs, especially painkillers, are close chemical relatives of potent drugs like heroin and are just as addictive and dangerous.

(Sources: www.azcentral.com)

Labels: prescription-drug-abuse, parents

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According to a story published this week in the Malibu Times, Malibu parents and officials are exploring new ways to combat teen drug abuse in the area. Many cite the lack of activities for youth as a contributing factor to increasing rates of drug teen drug abuse.

Some Malibu residents are calling drug use among area high school students an epidemic. Two students, interviewed anonymously by the Malibu Times, reported easily obtaining drugs on campus and doing the drugs while at school. One of the students said that drugs were "easy to supply, easy to get, and easy to do" at school. The two students reported knowing of at least five drug dealers at the high school.

(Source: www.malibutimes.com)

Labels: parents, teen-drug-abuse

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The Philadelphia affiliate of Fox news ran a story this week warning parents about the dangers and warning signs of teen prescription drug abuse. Two local teenagers have died in the past six months from overdoses of prescription medications. Ronnie Powell, a star running back on his high school football team, died last October from popping prescription painkillers. Two weeks ago, another teen named Pete Angstadt died at the age of 17 from a similar overdose.

The most astonishing fact is that many teens believe that prescription drugs are a "safer" way to get high. Teens and college students typically subvert the time-release structures of these pills by smashing them and snorting them. In powder form, the pills release their high all at once, resulting in frequent overdoses.

One of the most popular prescription drugs among teenagers is OxyContin, an equally potent cousin of heroin. One local teen, Kyle Houck, became addicted to OxyContin, and when he could no longer afford to buy the expensive pills, decided to try heroin. He died of a heroin overdose the first time he tried the drug.

Kyle's mother warns other parents that the most typical warning signs of prescription drug abuse are "grades slipping, sleeping too long, and moodiness."
(Source: www.myfoxphilly.com)

Labels: prescription-drug-abuse, parents

Posted By: jgarcia 0 Comments

Utah lawmakers are attempting to trim the state's budget by 15 percent. To do so, they will be cutting out entire programs, many of which serve the state's most vulnerable populations. Programs for the elderly, the poor, children, and to prevent teen substance abuse are likely to close. The Meals on Wheels program, which serves 12,000 seniors across the state, has been targeted for termination. In addition, classes that help to educate children about the dangers of drug and alcohol use, as well as after-school programs that divert children and teens from unsupervised circumstances, will be stopped. Research has shown that the children who attend after-school programs are primarily from low-income, single-parent households. After-school programs help to combat the fact that these young people are at higher risk for drug use, teen pregnancy, and delinquent behavior.
(Sources: www.sltrib.com)

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