Teen Drug Help

Negative Parental Expectations Encourage Misbehavior in Teens

2010-02-08T08:54:00.000-08:00

A new study indicates that teens are more likely to conform to negative stereotypes when their parents expect them to do so.

The study, conducted by professor of psychology Christy Buchanan of Wake Forest University and co-authored by Johna Hughes of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, included more than 250 adolescents and their mothers. The adolescents were surveyed in sixth or seventh grade and then again a year later.

Buchanan commented on the implications of the study: "Parents who believe they are simply being realistic might actually contribute to a self-fulfilling prophecy. Negative expectations on the part of both parents and children predict more negative behaviors later on. Higher expectations for risk-taking and rebelliousness predict higher levels of problem behavior, even controlling for many other predictors of such behavior."

Buchanan believes that parents who expect their children to become rebellious when they become teenagers may be making a significant mistake. Parents' assumptions that their kids will act a certain way may communicate to their children that something is wrong if the children don't act that way:

"Sometimes parents expect more negative behavior from their own adolescents than they should, based on the adolescent's history of behavior. By thinking risk-taking or rebelliousness is normal for teenagers and conveying that to their children, parents might add to other messages from society that make teenagers feel abnormal if they are not willing to take risks or break laws. This can mean, for example, that when parents expect teens to drink before they turn 21 or to engage in other risky behaviors, kids are less likely to resist societal pressures to do so."

(Source: sciencedaily.com)

Project Shows Teens 'Your Face on Meth'

2010-02-04T09:33:00.000-08:00

Mendocino County, Calif., is launching a new anti-meth project that uses image-altering software to show teens what their faces might look like after prolonged use of the drug.

The Face2Face project is being spearheaded by Sheriff Tom Allman. Using the software, Allman is able to show kids what they might look like three months, six months, a year and even three years into a methamphetamine habit.

Allman commented on the effectiveness of his method: "You're young. You're vibrant. You have great-looking skin. Your hair is there, your teeth are there. The software ... morphs it into causing the physiological effects that meth causes -- the open scabs, the droopy skin, the hair loss. It strikes at the vanity of teenagers. Some kids start crying when they see the devastating effect meth can do to their complexion. It was the way to crack the nut -- to say, 'This could happen to you.'"

The addiction rate after first-time use of methamphetamines is extremely high -- around 90 percent, Allman claims. Thus, Allman's goal is to prevent first-time use.

(Source: www.npr.org)

Teen Drinking May Lead to Irreversible Brain Damage

2010-02-02T09:31:00.000-08:00

A recent study led by a University of California, San Diego neuroscientist suggests that teen drinking may lead to irreversible brain damage.

Susan Tapert and colleagues compared the brain scans of teens who drink heavily with the scans of teens who don't. They found that teens who drink heavily sustain damage to brain nerve tissue, which negatively affects attention span in boys and the ability to comprehend and interpret visual information in girls.

Tapert commented on the findings: "First of all, the adolescent brain is still undergoing several maturational processes that render it more vulnerable to some of the effects of substances.

"For girls who had been engaging in heavy drinking during adolescence, it looks like they're performing more poorly on tests of spatial functioning, which links to mathematics, engineering kinds of functions.

"For boys who engaged in binge drinking during adolescence, we see poor performance on tests of attention -- so being able to focus on something that might be somewhat boring, for a sustained period of time."

For the study, the researchers looked at 12- to 14-year-olds before they used drugs or alcohol. Over time, some of the teens began drinking, a few rather heavily. Tapert's team compared those who began drinking with those who did not, and found that the binge drinkers performed significantly worse on cognitive tests.

Tapert explains that the result actually surprised her: "These results were actually surprising to me because the binge drinking kids hadn't, in fact, engaged in a great deal of binge drinking. They were drinking on average once or twice a month, but when they did drink, it was to a relatively high quantity of at least four or five drinks an occasion."

(Source: www.wbur.org)

Drinking Among Young Teens Declining in England, But Still a Concern

2010-01-29T09:29:00.000-08:00

Recent data from England's National Health Service (NHS) suggest that drinking among young teens is on the decline, and that English teens are generally less likely to abuse substances than their counterparts worldwide. However, experts warn that continued vigilance against underage drinking is needed.

According to the data, which included school surveys from over 8,000 children over three years, young teens in the Northeast reported drinking the most (about six pints of strong beer or two bottles of wine) per week, while young teens in London reported consuming about two-thirds that amount. Overall, the data suggest that the total number of youth regularly consuming alcohol is declining.

Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians, commented on the reported levels of drinking: "Regular consumption at these levels, especially when compressed into heavy sessions at the weekend puts boys and girls at considerable risk. This extends beyond the usual considerations around accidents and injury through violence. At this age the adolescent mind is still developing, and for an unlucky minority heavy drinking so early will have profound and long lasting implications for their learning and problem solving skills."

(Source: www.timesonline.co.uk)

Alcohol Outlets in a Neighborhood Influence Alcohol-Related Problems Among Youth

2010-01-22T08:26:00.000-08:00

A new study that will be appearing in the March 2010 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, indicates that a neighborhood's alcohol environment plays a role in regulating the risks that youth and young adults will be exposed to.

Researchers have discovered that the pattern of alcohol-related injuries among underage youth and young adults is not random. Rather, it is shaped by the density and type of alcohol outlets that exist in the neighborhood. These injuries include accidents, automobile crashes and assaults. For the study, researchers obtained non-public hospital discharge data from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development on underage youth (18- to 20-year-olds) and young adult (21- to 29-year-olds).

Paul J. Gruenewald, senior research scientist at the Prevention Research Center and corresponding author for the study, commented on the study's findings: "Over the past four decades, public health researchers have come to recognize that although most drinkers safely purchase and enjoy alcohol from alcohol outlets, these places are also associated with serious alcohol-related problems among young people and adults."

Richard Scribner, D'Angelo Professor of Alcohol Research at the LSU School of Public Health, added: "In the early studies, researchers believed associations were due to increased alcohol consumption related to higher alcohol outlet densities.

"However, as the research area has matured, the relations appear to be far more complex. It seems that alcohol outlets represent an important social institution within a neighborhood. As a result, their effects are not limited to merely the consequences of the sale of alcohol."

(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)

Texas County Sees Rise in Young Addicts, Violence Among Youth

2010-01-20T08:22:00.000-08:00

El Paso County, Texas, is seeing a rise in young addicts and violence among youth. Experts believe that the twin trends are no coincidence.

Chilo Madrid, director of an El Paso drug treatment center, comments on the trends: "We are seeing younger and more violent addicts. It's not unusual to see an 18-year-old who has been addicted for three or four years, who's had two or three sexually transmitted diseases, who's belonged to two gangs and who's been shot at more than once."

Madrid estimates that approximately 20 percent of El Paso County's population is addicts, or approximately 150,000 of the 742,000 residents. A Mexican drug cartel just across the United States border, in Juarez, Mexico, makes drugs cheap and easy to obtain in El Paso.

According to Madrid, heroin addiction is especially prevalent in the area: "We do a lot of street research, and we know for a fact that we have 30,000 hard-core heroin users in El Paso, and a lot more people who use cocaine on the weekends.”

“When we started out in this field, a hit of heroin (a quarter gram) cost $25," Madrid said. "Now, people can get the same quantity for $2.50 a hit. The same is true for cocaine. A hit of cocaine is about two lines.

"They don't go to Juarez or to shooting galleries anymore. People get the drugs by texting on their cell phones. Whereas before, your heroin users were older, we're now seeing kids as young as 16 who are trying heroin and cocaine for the first time."

(Source: behaviorhealthcentral.com)

Alabama Teens See Low Risk in Drug Use

2010-01-18T08:20:00.000-08:00

According to the results of the Pride Survey on Student Behavior and Perception, teens believe that the risks associated with drug use are low.

Virginia Guy of the Drug Education Council in Mobile, Ala., says this trend has been developing over the past couple of years: "The last two or three years we've noticed that there has been an increased low perception of risk -- in other words kids aren't perceiving drugs as being very harmful or risky -- and we have some major concerns."

Guy attributes the trend to reduced funding for drug and alcohol education in public schools.

According to the Pride Survey, alcohol and tobacco use by Alabama teens decreased slightly this year over last year. However, use of alcohol and tobacco remains higher among Alabama teens than teens in other states. In addition, marijuana use by Alabama teens is on the rise. The study included survey responses from 280,000 students in grades six through 12 throughout Alabama.

(Source: www.wkrg.com)

States that Lower Drinking Age May Endanger Teens in Neighboring States

2010-01-15T08:42:00.000-08:00

According to research conducted by the University of Michigan and Stanford University, 18- and 19-year-old drivers who live in a state where the minimum legal drinking age is 21, but live within 25 miles of another state where the drinking age is 18 or 19 are more likely to be involved in a fatal automobile accident.

University of Michigan economist Joel Slemrod, study co-author, commented on the findings: "The availability of different policies just across the border — be they lower excise taxes or the legal sale of fireworks — can compromise the impact of a jurisdiction's own policies and cause efficiency costs as consumers pursue the goods.

"In the case of legalized drinking, being able to drink legally across the border has an additional implication for social costs because the act of drinking and then driving home drunk can itself be dangerous, even fatal, both to the cross-border consumers and other unfortunate drivers and pedestrians."

Slemrod, and Stanford University colleague Michael Lovenheim, studied the effect of states' different minimum drinking ages on alcohol-related traffic deaths since 1977. For the years after 1987, when 21 years of age became the minimum drinking age in all 50 states, they focused on national borders with Canada and Mexico. The researchers found that raising the legal drinking age to 21 has resulted in 5 percent fewer drunk driving fatal automobile accidents for 18-year-olds and 4 percent fewer for 19-year-olds.

(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)

Football Game Days Mean Most Drinking for College Students

2010-01-13T08:41:00.000-08:00

According to research by the University of Texas at Austin, college students drink larger amounts of alcohol on football game days than on other well-known drinking days such as New Year's Eve and Halloween.

Kim Fromme, an author of the study and director of the University's Studies on Alcohol, Health and Risky Activities Laboratory, commented on the findings: "Most events associated with heavy drinking occur only once a year, such as Spring Break, or once in a lifetime, such as a 21st birthday, but the weekly football schedule presents students with more regular opportunities to drink."

Fromme and co-author Dan J. Neal of Kent State University observed students during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 University of Texas at Austin football seasons. They found that students were especially likely to drink more during high-profile games against conference or national rivals. However, the increased rates only occurred when students were actually on campus.

Fromme commented on this phenomenon: "These results indicate drinking is connected not only to the game itself, but to the social context associated with the event."

(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)

Cheap Alcohol Linked to Harmful Underage Drinking in U.K. Teens

2010-01-11T08:34:00.000-08:00

Researchers in the Northwest of England recently conducted a study of 9,833 15- to 16-year-olds and found that extremely low cost alcohol products are strongly linked to harmful underage drinking.

The researchers, a team from Liverpool John Moores University and Trading Standards (Northwest), surveyed the teens' alcohol consumption habits, the types of drinks they consumed, locations where drinks were consumed, methods of access to alcohol and harm encountered by drinking teens.

Mark Bellis, a researcher, commented on typical outcomes for teens who drank: "Regretted sex after drinking, having been involved in violence when drunk, consuming alcohol in public places and forgetting things after drinking had all been experienced by relatively large proportions of teen drinkers. For children who drink alcohol we did not find any typical drinking patterns where children were at no risk of harms. Accessing alcohol through parents did not remove the risks of alcohol related harms but was associated with lower levels of risk."

Interestingly, researchers found that 19.9 percent of teen drinkers who obtained alcohol from their parents and who drank once per week had been involved in violence when drunk. Among teens whose only access to alcohol was through other means, the incidence of violence increased to 35.9 percent. In addition, researchers found a strong correlation between the consumption of cheaper alcohol products and increased reporting of violence when drunk, risky sexual behavior and drinking in public places.

Bellis said, "Parental efforts should be matched by genuine legislative and enforcement activity to reduce independent access to alcohol by children and to increase the price of cheap alcohol products."

(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)

Teens Launch Texting Service to Help Peers Say 'No'

2010-01-07T08:53:00.000-08:00

Teens in Medford, Mass., have launched a service which utilizes text-messaging to help peers say "no" to using drugs and alcohol. The program, dubbed "I'm Allergic to Stupid Decisions," is being implemented by a local youth organization call Teens Against Drinking and Drugs (TADD).

Teens in need of assistance send a text to a special number. Within minutes, they will receive a reply with one of three pieces of information: an excuse to help them refuse a drink, a fact on underage drinking, or a sharp retort that suggests an alternative to drugs or alcohol.

Approximately 130 teens have utilized the service so far, receiving over 1,000 texts, according to the program advisor, Gisela Rots. Rots commented, "We want people to know that most youths DON'T drink, and that sometimes they just need to know there are more youth like them. We hope that youth will begin using it at anytime they need it."

(Source: www.boston.com)

Study Links Music and Marijuana Use

2010-01-05T08:51:00.000-08:00

According to a new study, listening to music that mentions marijuana may make teens significantly more likely to use the drug. The study included survey data collected from 959 9th graders.

Among respondents, 12 percent identified themselves as current marijuana users, and 32 percent reported having tried marijuana. Respondents were also asked to list songs that they listened to and researchers analyzed the content of these songs. The average respondent listened to 21.8 hours of music per week and heard about 40 references to marijuana in music each day.

Dr. Brian Primack, lead author, commented on the findings: "Students who listen to music with the most references to marijuana are almost twice as likely to have used the drug as their peers whose musical tastes favor songs less focused on substance use. Interestingly, we also found that exposure to marijuana in music was not associated with other high-risk behaviors, such as excessive alcohol consumption.

"This suggests that there is a real link between the marijuana lyrics and marijuana use. Although it may be that heavy exposure to music about marijuana causes marijuana smoking, it may also be that those who smoke marijuana seek out music with lyrics related to marijuana."

(Source:www.msnbc.com )

High Rates of Teen Drinking in Washington State, Surveys Say

2009-12-30T10:47:00.000-08:00

According to the national Monitoring the Future Survey, 11 percent of high school seniors reported "extreme binge drinking" within the two weeks prior to the survey. Extreme binge drinking is defined as consuming 10 or more alcoholic beverages in a single sitting. Approximately 6 percent reported consuming more than 15 drinks in a row in the two weeks prior to the survey.

The Washington State Healthy Youth Survey reported similar findings. The 2008 state survey found that almost 18 percent of 10th graders are binge drinkers, which is a higher percentage than those that are cigarette smokers (14 percent). Among Washington State 8th graders, 41 percent who drink reported getting alcohol from home and 24 percent reported that their parents have not talked to them about alcohol and its risks.

David Dickinson, director of the Department of Social and Health Services Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR), commented: "Underage drinking, especially binge drinking, is extremely risky, with alcohol poisoning being a potentially fatal outcome. Alcohol causes great harm to the developing teen brain. Teens who drink are more likely to become pregnant, fail in school, and develop alcohol dependence.

"Parents who give kids the facts about alcohol, set healthy examples, and never give alcohol to someone under 21, have the most influence in preventing underage drinking."

(Source: www.dhs.wa.gov)

2009 Monitoring the Future Survey Shows that Drug Abuse Continues to Be a Pervasive Problem

2009-12-25T08:48:00.000-08:00

The 2009 Monitoring the Future Survey -- the largest annual national survey that tracks drug abuse among 8th, 10th and 12th graders -- indicates that teen abuse of prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines continues to be a widespread problem. The survey shows that an alarming number of youth who abuse prescription drugs obtain them from friends and relatives.

According to the survey, 33 percent of 12th graders who reported abusing a prescription narcotic within the last year received the drug from a friend or relative; 21 percent bought the drug from a friend or relative; 19 percent abused a medication prescribed to them by a physician; 12 percent took the substance from a friend or relative; and 8 percent bought the drug from a dealer or someone they didn't know. Among the same group of teenagers, the study found that prescription and over-the-counter medicines account for 8 of the 13 most frequently abused substances.

Steve Pasierb, president of the Partnership for a Drug Free America, commented on the findings: "The Monitoring the Future study confirms that teen abuse of Rx and OTC medications continues to be a pervasive problem that unfortunately has become a far too normal part of many teens' lives. Teens are not only getting these medications from their own homes, but even more troubling, they are also getting them from friends and relatives.

"It is important for parents to educate themselves about the medications kids are abusing and communicate with their kids to dispel the notion that medicines can be safely abused. It is also crucial that parents safeguard medications at home, limit access, keep track of quantities and make certain that friends and relatives do the same."

(Source: www.news-medical.net)

Panelist Warns about the Dangers of Methamphetamines, Including "Holiday Meth"

2009-12-23T08:46:00.000-08:00

A substance abuse forum held this week in Benicia, Calif., by local school and police officials included strong warnings from a local psychiatric social worker about the dangers of methamphetamines.

The social worker, Jeremy Taubman, warned that methamphetamines can traumatically affect the life of the user. He even described "Christmas tree" or "holiday" meth -- a green version of the drug that is made using clog-remover Drano crystals (meth is typically white or yellowish in color).

Methamphetamines are a type of stimulant. Stimulants are a class of drugs that stimulates the body's central nervous system, causing euphoria and then a devastating crash which pushes users to constantly seek out more drugs. Meth can be injected, snorted, smoked or consumed orally. It can be "cooked" in a home kitchen using ingredients that are easily obtained at supermarkets; however, the process often results in explosions and toxic fumes and waste.

(Source: www.timesheraldonline.com )

Teen Pot Smokers Prone to Depression, Anxiety, Study Finds

2009-12-21T08:44:00.000-08:00

Teenagers who smoke pot on a daily basis may be more susceptible to depression and anxiety in adulthood because of damage inflicted on their developing brains. This finding comes from a new study conducted by McGill University in Canada.

Scientists at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre utilized adolescent and adult lab rats to conduct the study. The researchers found that after 20 days of exposure to cannabinoids (the active ingredient in marijuana), only the adolescent rats were negatively affected.

The adolescent rats exhibited a decrease in brain serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is known to be involved in emotional perception and that has been linked to depression. In addition, the adolescent rats showed increased levels of norepinephrine, which plays a key role in the fight-or-flight response. Increased levels of this chemical could contribute to heightened anxiety.

Gabriella Gobbi, one of the study's co-authors, commented on the findings: "Just because marijuana is a plant doesn't mean that it is harmless. Our study demonstrated that the cannabinoid, when consumed daily, can induce a permanent change in the brain."

(Source: www.canada.com)

Recreational Drug Use Linked to Impulsive Behavior

2009-12-18T08:29:00.000-08:00

A new study by Spanish researchers indicates that the use of addictive substances by young university students is related to the manifestation of cognitive and psychomotor impulsiveness.

According to data produced by the study, individuals who regularly consume alcohol and marijuana are more impulsive than non-users. However, researchers were not able to detect a difference between drinkers and marijuana users, suggesting that all substance use is equally related to impulsivity.

The study included 575 students -- 50.7 percent men and 49.3 percent women. Participants were assigned to one of three groups depending on their substance use habits. Researchers found that men are more likely to be regular consumers of both substances than women, and men consume higher amounts of both substances than women.

The researchers commented on the still-unclear role of impulsivity in the behaviors that were observed: "[I]t is undeniable that university students regularly consume addictive substances. On the other hand, it seems clear that there is a relationship between drug use and impulsive behaviour although we still have to clarify whether this attitude is a cause or a result of drug use."

(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)

Alcohol Abuse a Major Concern for a Connecticut University

2009-12-16T09:05:00.000-08:00

Fairfield University of Fairfield, Conn., has a problem with alcohol. Between 2007 and 2008, the University experienced a 70 percent increase in cases of alcohol disciplinary action. According to the Princeton Review, Fairfield University ranks third in the nation for usage of hard alcohol on campus.

One student commented, "The alcohol is more accessible than drugs, and that makes it more dangerous because people will indulge more into it."

According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, Fairfield University is leading a nationwide trend. CASA also states that "the abuse of prescription drugs and marijuana has increased dramatically since the mid-1990s."

Students say that drinking is the most common form of substance use because it is perceived to be safer than drugs and the consequences associated with getting caught are much less severe for alcohol than for other substances.

Student Ryan King echoes the misguided perception of many college students: "I think [students] drink more because of the perception that it's safer, and because it's legal. It doesn't mean that alcohol is safe, but it's safer than taking drugs."

Unfortunately, alcohol poisoning and alcohol-related injuries and fatalities are continuing realities on many college campuses, fueled by the idea that "alcohol is safer than drugs." Experts estimate that over 1,700 college students die each year from alcohol-related accidents and injuries, and each year approximately 599,000 college students are unintentionally injured while under the influence of alcohol.

(Sources: www.fairfieldmirror.com, www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov)

Florida Survey Highlights Need for Increased Anti-Drug Efforts

2009-12-14T09:03:00.000-08:00

Although the results of Florida's 2009 Youth Substance Abuse Survey were largely positive, binge drinking, marijuana use and prescription drug use remain areas of concern. Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp announced this week that the survey showed long-term reductions in drug use among middle and high school students and attributes the reductions to the success of prevention efforts.

Kottkamp reinforced the importance of the survey as a tool to track a serious threat: "Drug use threatens the health and safety of our children and their families. Children are Florida's most vulnerable residents and protecting them from the dangers of substance abuse remains a high priority. The survey is a critical tool in the effort to prevent drug use."

Alcohol use has declined steadily since 2000, but the rate of alcohol use among Florida's students continues to exceed national figures.

Bruce Grant, Director of the Florida Office of Drug Control, commented: "The results of the survey show the success of our prevention efforts over time. Yet, we still have our work cut out for us to reduce youth use of inhalants, marijuana and prescription drugs. Overall, underage drinking remains the most significant challenge we face."

(Source: www.thegovmonitor.com)

Mephedrone: A Highly Dangerous, Legal Drug

2009-12-11T08:15:00.000-08:00

Mephedrone, also known as “meow meow,” is legally sold on the Internet as plant fertilizer and is a highly dangerous hallucinogen.

Authorities warn that the drug, which is a chemical relative of Ecstasy, can result in severe hallucinations, nose bleeds, nose burns, blood circulation problems, rashes, anxiety and paranoia, seizures, and heart attack. Users have been known to severely mutilate themselves due to intense hallucinations, such as bugs crawling all over them.

One British police report stated: "A large number of contributors state how addictive mephedrone is and they are constantly popping up as one individual states that after using it for 18 hours his hallucinations led him to believe that centipedes were crawling over him and biting him.” This individual then mutilated his body to the point that he required emergency hospital treatment.

Authorities also warn that the drug can become addictive, and when cut with alcohol or other drugs is likely to result in death. The substance is now banned in Sweden, Israel, Norway and Finland.

(Source: www.thesun.co.uk)

California Community Fights Teen Prescription Drug Abuse

2009-12-09T08:12:00.000-08:00

Glendora, Calif., has seen a disturbing trend in the last couple of years: a drastic increase in the incidence of teen prescription drug abuse. According to data from the local school district, in 2006, 46 students were suspended for prescription drug use. The next year, the number rose to 54, then to 55 in 2008.

Last Christmas, a 15-year-old Glendora teen died from an overdose of prescription drugs that he got at a friend's house. In September, another high school student who was allegedly addicted to the prescription anti-anxiety drug Xanax shot himself. And last month, a Glendora teen was found running through traffic on a main boulevard after ingesting 40 OxyContin pills, Xanax and alcohol.

In response to the surge in teen prescription drug use, local law enforcement and school officials are collaborating to get the word out to unsuspecting parents and other adults: The stereotypical drug dealer is no longer the norm. More and more teens are buying drugs from their middle-class peers or obtaining them from the medicine cabinets of family, friends and acquaintances.

On Nov. 2, 2009, the police and school district held a drug forum at a local gymnasium to discuss local teen abuse of prescription drugs.

(Source: www.pasadenastarnews.com)

Wisconsin School District's New Prevention Effort Directed at Parents

2009-12-07T08:10:00.000-08:00

The Kimberly Area School District in Wisconsin is launching a new teen drug use prevention effort aimed at reaching parents. Operation Recommit will consist of a series of films and workshops starting this month and running through the end of the school year. The program is designed to combat teen drug use by building community knowledge of and support for the district's efforts to keep teens away from drugs and alcohol.

Kathy Verstegen, a nurse at Kimberly High School, believes that parental support and knowledge is vital to helping students make healthy decisions regarding the use of alcohol or drugs. She believes that some parents lose sight of how much they're needed as their children grow.

"Anyone can change a diaper," she said. "It really takes a dedicated parent to sit down and talk about these really big issues with their kids."

(Source: www.postcrescent.com)

High Rates of Drug Use, Suicide, Sexual Activity Among Nevada Teens

2009-12-04T08:35:00.000-08:00

Teens in the Reno, Nev., area report high levels of suicide, sexual activity and drug use, according to a recent youth risk behavior survey conducted by Washoe County School District officials. The district released the results of the survey this week and called for immediate action by the entire community.

According to the study, the number of students considering suicide is on the rise (from 8.6 percent in 2001 to 14.6 percent in 2009); more than half of the district's students have had sex; and almost one-quarter of students reported coming to class high.

District Board of Trustees President Barbara Clark said at a morning news conference: "Many of our children come to school each day facing challenges to be ready and willing to learn. We want to make sure our parents and community know what our children are facing so we can work on these issues together."

The survey was based on questions created by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and involved a sampling of 1,844 middle school students and 1,727 high school students.

(Source: www.rgj.com)

Oregon Police Hope to Curb Drinking Among Middle School Students

2009-12-02T08:32:00.000-08:00

Police in Ashland, Ore., are hoping to curb drinking among middle school students by giving presentations to area students on the consequences of alcohol abuse.

Lt. Corey Falls, a local police official, commented on the effort: "I think our No. 1 concern is the binge drinking. The earlier that kids start drinking, the worse that it becomes."

Falls reports that binge drinking is the most common problem that area police officers encounter when dealing with teens and alcohol. Binge drinking is also associated with alcohol poisoning and sexual assaults among teens in Ashland, according to Falls.

"Those are some of the extremes that we see from binge drinking," he said.

In 2007, Ashland police issued 244 citations to minors for being in possession of alcohol; 87 of these citations were given to teens under the age of 18. At the end of October, this year, police had issued 154 citations to minors, 30 of these to juveniles.

(Source: www.dailytidings.com)

Rhode Island Project Harnesses 'Sticker Shock' to Reduce Teen Drinking

2009-11-30T09:29:00.000-08:00

A group of Rhode Island volunteers is hoping to reduce teen drinking during the holiday season by harnessing the power of "sticker shock." The group is visiting local retailers of alcoholic beverages to paste brightly colored warning labels on cartons of beer and wine coolers and bottles of liquor.

The four-inch-wide stickers feature the phrase, "Think buying alcohol for someone under 21 is not a big deal? Think again." The stickers also list the state penalties for providing alcohol to minors. These penalties start with a $1,000 fine for a first offense, and continue on to jail time and more significant fines for subsequent incidents.

Mary Lou Serra, coordinator of the local Westerly Substance Abuse Task Force, commented: "The stickers are designed to make people think. The holidays are upon us. It's a great time of the year. But it's also a frightening time since statistics show that the holidays provide a perfect excuse for minors to drink ... [often] adults provide the kids with the alcohol. We want that practice to stop."

The group recently spent about $1,500 for 5,000 stickers.

(Source: www.projo.com)