Teen Drug Help
Caffeine Interferes with Teen Sleep
A recent study by Drexel University's College of Nursing Health and Professions has found that many teens who consume caffeine stay up late at night surfing the Web, text messaging and gaming, and dozing off during the day. Researchers asked 100 middle and high school students aged 12 to 18 to complete a questionnaire. The questionnaire asked about nighttime consumption of caffeinated beverages, use of technology and sleep patterns.
Researchers found that only 20 percent of survey respondents got the recommended eight or more hours of sleep on school nights. Approximately 30 percent of teens reported falling asleep during school, and researchers determined that caffeine consumption tended to be 76 percent higher among those students who reported falling asleep.
Lead study author Dr. Christina Calamaro, assistant professor in Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions, commented on the study's findings: “Many adolescents used multiple forms of technology late into the night and concurrently consumed caffeinated beverages. ... Their ability to stay alert and fully functional throughout the day was impaired by excessive daytime sleepiness."
(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)
Labels: caffeine, sleep
Study Suggests Link Between Secondhand Smoke and Poor High School Test Scores
A new study appearing in the Journal of Adolescent Health suggests that teens exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) may be at increased risk for failing tests at school. Lead author Bradley Collins, Ph.D., assistant professor of public health and director of the Health Behavior Research Clinic at Temple University, commented on the study's findings: "Our retrospective study suggests that in adolescents, secondhand smoke exposure could interfere with academic test performance."
Researchers found that exposure to SHS at home decreased the odds of passing standardized achievement tests by 30 percent in 16- and 18-year-olds, after accounting for other known risk factors such as socioeconomic status, gender, prenatal exposure to smoking and active smoking during adolescence.
According to study authors, smoking prevalence is similar in the United Kingdom and the United States. Approximately 10 to 15 percent of women of childbearing age are smokers, and up to 60 percent of children may be exposed to smoke at home.
Dr. Collins commented on parental responsibility: "It's important that we help smoking parents learn how to reduce their children's exposure to secondhand smoke, a goal that can be achieved without requiring the parent to immediately quit smoking, although that's the ultimate goal for the health of the entire family."
(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)
Labels: second hand smoke, testing
Secondhand Smoke Exposure and College Students
A new study by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine indicates that secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure may be a health concern for many college students. The study, funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, is the first to provide evidence of high rates of SHS exposure among college students in the United States.
Mark Wolfson, Ph.D., lead author on the study and professor and section head for the Section on Society and Health in the Department of Social Science and Health Policy, commented on the study findings:
"It is well-known that there are some serious health issues surrounding secondhand smoke. ... While some college campuses are smoke free, others have virtually no restrictions on smoking, not even in the residence halls. There is a growing national movement to move away from that, but it still very much varies by campus. In this first study to evaluate SHS exposure among college students, we were really kind of floored to see how many, and how frequently, students are exposed to it."
The study included survey data collected from 4,223 undergraduate college students from 10 North Carolina universities. Approximately 83 percent of survey participants reported having been exposed to SHS at least once in the seven days preceding the survey. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), SHS contains approximately 250 chemicals that are either toxic or carcinogenic and is estimated to be responsible for 3,000 deaths each year from lung cancer and 35,000 deaths annually from coronary disease. The study will appear in the July 23 issue of Nicotine & Tobacco Research, a publication of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.
(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)
Labels: second hand smoke
Anti-Drug Campaigns for Teens Find New Drug Focus
According to a recent CBS news survey of government and non-profit anti-drug groups, most anti-drug campaigns that target teens are moving away from warnings against marijuana use and putting more effort into battling prescription drug abuse. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, the nation's largest source of anti-drug messages, produced its most recent anti-marijuana advertisement in 2005.
The change is a result of declining marijuana use among youth and growing concerns about prescription drug abuse. According to the national Monitoring the Future Study, conducted annually by the University of Michigan, marijuana use has been declining at a steady rate for the past 10 years; past-month use of marijuana among youth has dropped 25 percent since 2001. According to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, prescription drug abuse among teens has been steady for the past five years at about 19 percent.
Sean Clark, executive vice president with the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, commented on the new focus among anti-drug groups: "For this generation, high prevalence of prescription drug abuse was kicking in ... there was a dawning, and a number of us began to feel that we need to do something about it."
(Source: www.cbsnews.com)
Labels: anti drug campaign, teen drug abuse
Mystery Drug Contributes to Teen Death at Party
A 16-year-old boy collapsed, vomited, and choked to death at an unsupervised party in Orinda, California, recently after drinking a small amount of alcohol and taking an unusual prescription medication. The medication - papaverine - causes blood vessels to expand, allowing increased blood flow. The drug is generally prescribed to treat urinary tract spasms and erectile dysfunction.
Authorities reported that Joseph Loudon had a "high level" of papaverine in his system, but that the drug was not prescribed for him and it is not known where he got it. Police Chief Bill French said this was the first time his department had come across this drug, and that he was unaware of any recreational use in the area. Tragically, other teens at the party delayed getting medical help for Loudon because they feared getting in trouble. Chief French commented: "He needed immediate medical care. ... There was a delay, and it resulted in his death."
(Source: www.sfgate.com)
Labels: drugs, teed drug use
Teens and Energy Drinks
Since the introduction of the brand-name energy drink Red Bull in 1997, energy drink consumption has continuously increased in popularity. Now some experts worry about the effects of these beverages on teens.
Energy drinks are often very high in caffeine, which can have detrimental effects on youth. The FDA regulates the amount of caffeine in soda (65 milligrams per 12-ounce ca) but has not introduced any similar regulation for energy drinks, some of which have over 200 milligrams of caffeine. A cup of coffee, by comparison, contains approximately 100 milligrams of caffeine.
Some experts point out that when a doctor prescribes medication to a young person, the dosage is often modulated based on the youth's smaller body size. When a 12-year-old child consumes 200 milligrams of caffeine, the effect is bound to be significantly greater than when a 35-year-old consumes the same amount of the drug.
(Source: google.news)
Labels: energy drinks, teen
New Focus on Rehab for Cocaine Abuse
Drug abuse treatment centers are busy developing new methods for treating individuals who struggle with addiction to cocaine. According to recent data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), cocaine is the second most commonly abused drug in America (after marijuana) and approximately 15,000 deaths each year are related to stimulant abuse. Cocaine addiction is powerful, both physically and psychologically. Abusers of cocaine often experience depression and other serious mental health problems when not actually using the drug. This is largely due to the fact that prolonged cocaine use can cause significant changes in brain chemistry.
Cocaine use is also highly correlated with drug-related emergency room visits. According to one NIDA study, 28 percent of drug-related emergency room visits directly involved cocaine. Also according to NIDA, over half a million people in the United States regularly use cocaine (use it 51 or more days per year), and most of these are young, single people.
(Source: www.prweb.com)
Labels: cocaine, rehab, teen drug abuse
Massachusetts Loses Long-Standing Drug Prevention Program
Students in Massachusetts will no longer be participating in a 25-year-old drug prevention program, due to recent significant state budget cuts. The New Beginnings Program, which was established in 1985, works to keep kids from making destructive decisions and from becoming addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. Program director and founder, Bill Phillips, commented on the struggle to maintain funding for the program: "We haven't lost the energy to try to keep fighting."
The programs usually visit about 300 schools per year and host an annual conference for health workers, teachers, and others who are concerned with healthy childhood development. The program also hosts approximately 40 meetings per year with groups around the state. Approximately 250,000 students have participated in the New Beginnings program over the last two decades.
(Source: www.wickedlocal.com)
Labels: drug prevention, massachusetts, programs
Dads Need to Talk to Kids about Drugs and Alcohol
According to a new national survey, a significant percentage of dads would rather leave drug education to moms and schools. The survey, conducted by the non-profit Partnership for a Drug-Free America and the MetLife Foundation, found that 34 percent of fathers felt that drug education should take place in schools, compared to 10 percent of mothers.
Shelly Mowry, director of programs and communication for the Arizona affiliate of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, commented on the findings: "Moms really do take the lead when it comes to talking to kids about drugs. ... Parents need to have a united front in this effort. I think a lot of times dads just kind of think, 'She's going to take care of it.' Sometimes they're afraid of the delicate subjects like sex and drugs."
The study, which included responses from 1,004 parents of children in fourth grade through high school, identified one reason that dads may prefer to let mom or the school talk to kids about drugs: dads participating in the study placed a higher value on being friends with their children than did mothers (59 percent of dads versus 51 percent of mothers). In addition, 18 percent of fathers reported difficulty enforcing rules about substance use, compared with only 10 percent of mothers.
Ms. Mowry's advice to parents: "Be the parent, not the pal. ... Especially in those preteen years - 11, 12, 13 - kids need clear and consistent boundaries."
(Source: www.azcentral.com)
Labels: alcohol, communication, dads, drugs, fathers, talking
Study Links Teen Drug Use to "Problem Parents"
According to a report by Columbia University's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), parents who fail to monitor their school-age children's activities and leave prescription medications in accessible locations around the house play a significant role in teen drug abuse.
These findings come from CASA's 13th annual back-to-school survey of teens and parents. According to the survey, about half of 12- to 17-year-olds regularly left their homes to hang out with friends on schools nights, but only 14 percent of parents said their kids did this. In addition, about one-third of teens with friends who abuse prescription medications said the friends got the drugs from their home medicine cabinets; another third reported that they could easily get prescription drugs from friends or classmates.
The survey also found that one in four teens reported knowing of a parent of a classmate or friend who smokes marijuana, and one in 10 said that this parent smokes with teenagers. For the first time ever, more teens responding to the survey reported that it was easier for them to get prescription drugs than to buy beer. The percentage of teens who consider prescription drugs the easiest to get increased by 46 percent in one year.
(Source: www.webmd.com)
Labels: parents, teen drug use
Teens Use Graffiti to Fight Adolescent Drug Abuse
Teens from Douglas High School in Roseburg, Oregon, have started a new and very active group to promote anti-drug messages in the community. Teens Against Drug Abuse (TADA) is comprised of high school students dedicated to promoting drug- and alcohol-free activities and educational opportunities for local youth. The organization also facilitates youth leadership and community involvement. Since its founding in February 2009, the group has developed a board of directors and implemented weekly meetings. TADA members will be receiving training to provide prevention awareness services to local students.
One of the group's planned community activities is a graffiti contest. The winner of the contest will paint a mural on a local park pavilion. TADA hopes that facilitating youth-painted murals will help eliminate destructive youth graffiti around the town. The competition will consist of 20 stations, each with a sheet of plywood. Participants, ages 13 to 19, will paint one side of the plywood with an anti-drug message. A panel of community members will judge the results.
(Source: www.nrtoday.com)
Labels: graffiti, teen drug abuse, teens
Teen Brains Vulnerable to Addiction
Teens may get addicted to drugs and relapse more easily than adults because their still-developing brains respond more powerfully to drug-related cues, according to recent research. The research, conducted by McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School's largest psychiatric facility, appeared in the April issue of Behavioral Neuroscience.
The research, which utilized adolescent and adult rats, found that adolescent rats were significantly more persistent than adults in returning to the same spot where they had first received a dose of a drug. Given these findings, researchers believe that treating adolescent addiction "may require atypical strategies for drug abuse intervention during the adolescent period, such as extended treatment that involves substitution with different rewards, for example, exercise or music."
Researchers suggest that "Harnessing their acute ability to learn well and form strong associations with stimuli that predict rewards may be helpful. ... In addition, it may be important to realise that adolescents might need longer treatment programs."
(Source: www.scientistslive.com)
Labels: addiction, teens
Teen Fatalism Connected to High Risk Behaviors
A new study from the University of Minnesota indicates that fatalistic attitudes among teens are linked to risky behaviors. The study, which was based on surveys of more than 20,000 middle and high school students between 1995 and 2000, found that teens who engaged in risky behaviors such as drug use, fighting, and unsafe sex were more likely to believe that they would die young than those who didn't.
Pediatrician and study researcher Iris Borowsky, MD, PhD, of the University of Minnesota commented: "The conventional wisdom has been that teens underestimate their risk, but there are also studies showing that they are no worse than adults at perceiving their vulnerability to risk and that they tend to overestimate their risk of dying."
(Source: www.webmd.com)
Labels: high risk behavior, teens
Teen Meth Use Declines by 63 Percent in Montana
According to data recently released by the Montana Office of Public Instruction, meth use among Montana teenagers has significantly decreased. The data comes from Montana's Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), which found that since the Montana Meth Project was first launched in 2005, meth use among teens in the state has dropped by 63%. The YRBS is conducted every two years by the Montana Office of Public Instruction, in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The study also found that between 2005 and 2007, the incidence of workers testing positive for meth decreased by 72%. Between 2005 and 2008, meth-related crime was reduced by 62%, and meth-related admissions for substance abuse treatment declined by 34%. In addition, the number of children placed in foster care because of meth-related incidents decreased by 11%.
Montana Meth Project chairman Mike Gulledge commented on the findings: "The 63% decrease in teen meth use reported by the state and the CDC continues a trend we have seen since the launch of the Montana Meth Project in 2005. ... Four years ago, we realized that if Montana was going to eradicate its meth problem we needed to launch a research-based prevention effort that would capture the attention of our young people and stop them from ever trying the drug. The result was the Montana Meth Project, which has had demonstrated success in educating Montana's young people about the dangers of meth use. The program has exceeded all expectations and I commend the people of the state of Montana for making it possible."
(Source: www.marketwatch.com)
Labels: meth, montana, teen drug use
Southern Illinois Steps Up Prescription Drug Abuse Warnings
Authorities in southern Illinois are stepping up warnings about prescription drug abuse, especially by teenagers. Recent research has shown that prescription drug abuse is one of the fastest-growing trends in addiction in the United States. Wayne County Sheriff Jim Hinkle, who commented for a recent article, believes that more and more teens are using prescription substances because they are so easy to obtain, saying "They're getting them from their parents and grandparents." Sheriff Hinkle advises adults to get rid of old, unused prescriptions, as leaving them in the house makes it easier for kids to get to them.
(Source: www.wsiltv.com)
Labels: abuse, illinois, prescription drugs
