Teen Drug Help

Meth Lab Busts on Rise in Tennessee

2010-03-10T15:36:00.000-08:00

In Tennessee, meth lab seizures rose by a shocking 76 percent in 2009. The state's Director for the Meth Task Force, Tommy Farmer, believes the sharp rise in seizures is due to improved investigative methods.

In a March 3 ad on the website of Tennessee newspaper The Tomahawk, freelance Paula Walter reported on other causes -- and likely effects -- of the increase in meth-related arrests:

While many methamphetamine labs are often set up in out-of-the-way, clandestine areas, new ways of producing meth have arisen. The most common is known as "shake and bake." This method has increased in popularity not only in Tennessee, but across the nation.

This methodology is faster than the traditional methods. However, it is extremely dangerous as the chemicals needed for this process are highly volatile, resulting in explosions. “Our burn units are bursting at the seams, “ said Farmer. At this time, “60 to 70 percent of lab seizures are shake and bake,” Farmer added.

Methamphetamine causes devastating effects upon users, their families and communities. Methamphetamine use destroys families and individuals. Communities with meth users often see an increase in burglaries and thefts as users look for ways to obtain money. Children of methamphetamine users often are abused and neglected.

Prescription Drug Abuse Increasing Among South Dakota Teens

2010-03-08T23:35:00.000-08:00

Approximately one in five teens has used a prescription medication for recreational purposes. According to a local treatment provider in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, area teens are following this trend.

Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem in Sioux Falls, according to treatment expert Ben Granville. Granville said local high school students regularly use such prescription medications as hydrocodone, Ritalin, Xanax, and Oxycontin.

Granville said that many teens obtain the drugs from their parents' or relatives' medicine cabinets. In addition, students who have prescriptions for drugs such as Ritalin have been known to sell the drugs at school for as much as $30 to $40 per pill.

Technology also aids access to prescription drugs. Tens text one another when drugs are available at school. Granville and other treatment providers urge parents to be aware that prescription drugs are easily accessible to their children.

(Source: ksfy.com)

Alcohol Linked to Rise in Fatal Car Crashes Involving Young Women

2010-03-05T08:29:00.000-08:00

New research indicates that alcohol is becoming an increasingly important factor in the number of fatal car crashes involving young women drivers in the United States. In 2007 alone, alcohol-related crashes accounted for almost one-third of all fatal car crashes in the United States.

The new research, which was recently published in the journal Injury Prevention, included an analysis of data from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on fatal road traffic collisions for the years 1995 to 2007. The study shows that the increase in the proportion of young female drivers with a positive blood alcohol test involved in a fatal collision was greater (3.1%) than it was for young male drivers (1.2%).

In addition, the increase in the proportion of young drivers involved in fatal crashes with positive blood alcohol tests at all times of the week was greater among young women than it was among young men. The rate increased by 3.5% on weekdays and 2.2% on weekends among young women. By contrast, it rose by 1.5% on weekdays and 0.4% on weekends among young men.

(Source: sciencedaily.com)

Lack of Sleep Linked to Teen Drug Use

2010-03-03T08:27:00.000-08:00

According to a new study by researchers at the University of San Diego and Harvard University, teens who sleep less than seven hours per night are more likely to use illegal drugs.

For the study, the researchers tracked the drug use and sleep patterns of more than 8,000 teens. They found that social networks significantly influenced both sleep patterns and drug use among study participants. For example, teens with a friend who sleeps less than seven hours per night are 11 percent more likely to sleep less than seven hours per night. In addition, teens with a friend who sleeps less than seven hours per night are 19 percent more likely to use marijuana.

Researchers found that teens with a friend who uses marijuana are almost twice as likely to use marijuana themselves. Study results also indicated that lack of sleep might be linked to increased alcohol use by teens.

The study authors commented: "Adolescents are embedded in complex social networks and are especially vulnerable to peer effects -- possibly not only with respect to drugs, but also with respect to sleep."

(Source: news.yahoo.com)

Prescription Drug Abuse Increasing Among South Dakota Teens

2010-03-01T08:24:00.000-08:00

Approximately one in five teens has used a prescription medication for recreational purposes. According to a local treatment provider in Sioux Falls, S.D., area teens are following this trend.

Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem in Sioux Falls, according to treatment expert Ben Granville. Granville says local high school students regularly use such prescription medications as hydrocodone, Ritalin, Xanax and Oxycontin. Granville says that many teens will take any prescription medication to get high, but are in danger of experiencing unanticipated and dangerous side effects, such as a slowed heart rate.

Granville says that many teens obtain the drugs from their parents' or relatives' medicine cabinets. In addition, students who have prescriptions for drugs such as Ritalin have been known to sell the drugs at school for as much as $30-$40 per pill.

Technology also aids access to prescription drugs. Teens text one another when drugs are available at school. Granville and other treatment providers urge parents to be aware that prescription drugs are easily accessible to their children.

(Source: ksfy.com)

Painkiller Abusers Often Rely on 'Leftovers' from Friends, Report Says

2010-02-26T08:26:00.000-08:00

According to a 2008 study, which is appearing this week in the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, almost all abusers of opioid painkillers obtain the drugs from a friend or family member who had a prescription.

The study, conducted in Utah, involved 5,300 adults. Of the 2 percent of adults who reported using an opioid painkiller not prescribed to them, 97 percent reported obtaining the drug from a friend or family member. And most of the time the friend or family member gave them the drug willingly.

Report co-author Erin Johnson, project coordinator for the Utah Department of Health's Pain Medication Management and Education Program, commented: "We found that one in five patients are prescribed opioids and the majority of those have leftover medication. With all these excess pills, there is a great likelihood of misuse and abuse that could result from that. So dispose of your leftover pain medication immediately."

According to the report by Johnson and her team, 85.2 percent of people who used an opioid without a prescription said the drug was given to them by someone who did have a prescription, and 9.8 percent said they took the medication without the knowledge or permission of the owner. Only 4.1 percent said they had bought the drug.

(Source: businessweek.com)

American Teens Think Smoking More Risky than Drugs, Alcohol

2010-02-24T08:24:00.000-08:00

According to a new national study, American teenagers believe that smoking cigarettes is riskier than consuming alcohol or using illicit drugs. The study, conducted by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), included survey responses from 44,979 adolescents, aged 12-17, who took part in the 2007 and 2008 SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Study authors expressed concerns that teens may be more likely to experiment with alcohol or illegal substances if they believe that the risks associated with using drugs and alcohol are low. Pamela S. Hyde, SAMHSA administrator, said in a news release:

"We are on the right track with cigarette smoking and need to keep raising awareness among teens about the dangers of other substances. Understanding that perception of harm is a strong predictor of potential substance use among young people can help guide the development of substance prevention messages."

SAMHSA researchers found that perception of risk relating to cigarettes was fairly constant among all respondents. However, perception of risk with regard to alcohol and other substances varied widely by age and gender. For example, more than two-thirds (70 percent) of respondents believed smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day to be a major health risk. By contrast, only 40 percent of respondents believed binge-drinking (consuming five or more drinks at a time once or twice per week) posed a major health risk.

(Source: businessweek.com)

Partnership for a Drug Free America and Hershey Company Team Up with Parents to Help Kids Make Healthy Choices

2010-02-22T08:21:00.000-08:00

The Partnership for a Drug Free America and the Hershey Company are teaming up to launch "Sweet Talk Tools for Families" -- a new website offering tips and tools to help parents communicate with kids about making healthy choices. The site focuses on encouraging parents and kids to bake together as an opportunity to talk, share personal experiences, work together and listen to each other.

Jennifer Goss, community relations manager for The Hershey Company, commented on the new program: "Nothing is more important than spending quality time with your kids, and the kitchen offers wonderful opportunities for getting together. While you're checking out recipes, mixing and baking chocolate treats together, you can catch up on your children's busy lives, and talk about some serious subjects in a relaxed setting."

"Sweet Talk Tools for Families" utilizes useful talk tips such as Teachable Moments, a communication strategy developed by the Partnership, as well as five simple Hershey recipes that parents and kids can use together.

Andy Phillips, national director of corporate relations for the Partnership, explained: "Talking with kids about the risks of drugs and alcohol isn't as hard as parents think and these unique Sweet Talk tools help make these conversations easier with free, research-based tools and tips to help parents and caregivers have ongoing discussions with their kids."

The "Sweet Talk" site is part of the Partnership's nationwide initiative Time to Talk, which reinforces the significant influence of parents in helping children make healthy choices. The Partnership champions the idea that parents can minimize the risk of drug and alcohol abuse by being heroes in their kids' lives.

(Source: prnewswire.com)

Cocaine or Ecstasy Use in Adolescence Increases Risk of Addiction

2010-02-19T08:09:00.000-08:00

New research from the University of Valencia (UV) indicates that exposure to ecstasy (MDMA) or cocaine during adolescence may increase vulnerability to addiction in adulthood.

José Miñarro, lead author of the study and coordinator of the Psychobiology of Drug Addiction group at UV, commented: "Although MDMA and cocaine are psychoactive substances frequently used by teenagers, very few studies have been done to analyse the short and long-term consequences of joint exposure to these drugs."

Miñarro and colleagues studied the joint consumption of different drugs in order to examine any interactive effects. Over an eight-day period, the researchers administered MDMA, cocaine and saline solution to adolescent mice.

According to Miñarro, "The animals exhibited an increase in vulnerability to re-establishing behaviour (relapse), showing a preference for certain environments previously associated with the pleasant effects of the drug."

The results of the study emphasize that "reinforcing effects" are more prominent in mice exposed to cocaine and MDMA in adolescence than in mice not exposed to these drugs during adolescence.

As Miñarro explained, "Adolescence is a critical stage in development, during which time drug consumption affects plastic cerebral processes in ways that cause changes that persist right through to adulthood."

(Source: sciencedaily.com)

Sweet Tooth and Depression in Children May Predict Alcoholism

2010-02-17T08:07:00.000-08:00

A new study indicates that a sweet tooth in children may be an indicator for problems with depression and, later, alcoholism.

The study, conducted by the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, included 500 children ages 5 to 12. The children were asked to taste five samples of sugar (sucrose) water with varying amounts of sugar and indicate their preferred level of sweetness. About one-fourth of the participants had depressive symptoms and 49 percent had a family history of alcoholism.

Researchers found that a liking for intense sweetness was greatest in the 37 children with both depressive symptoms and a family history of alcoholism. Among these children, the preferred level of sweetness was 24 percent sucrose -- the equivalent of 14 teaspoons of sugar, or about twice as much sugar as the average soda. The other children participating in the study preferred about 18 percent sucrose, or one-third less sugar.

The researchers believe that more study is needed to establish whether a liking for intense sweetness is a reliable indicator of later alcohol problems.

Study author Julie A. Mennella, a developmental psychobiologist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, said in a news release: "We know that sweet taste is rewarding to all kids and makes them feel good. In addition, certain groups of children may be especially attracted to intense sweetness due to their underlying biology. At this point, we don't know whether this higher 'bliss point' for sweets is a marker for later alcohol use."

(Source: www.businessweek.com)

Illinois Mom Organizes Drug Forum After Three Young People Die of Heroin Overdose

2010-02-15T11:03:00.000-08:00

Parents in Lake Zurich, Ill., are concerned about teen heroin use, especially because three Lake Zurich High School alumni have died of heroin overdose within the past 14 months. One mom, Michelle Hines, is taking action. She has initiated a local drug forum where parents can learn about drug use in their community.

Hines commented: "When I found out about all the kids dying, I thought, 'Enough already.' Someone's got to do something. We've got to fight back. Heroin is in our town and kids are dying. If parents don't know it's here, then they can't educate their kids. We're doing the best we can to let them know."

In December 2008, 19-year-old Kelly Gawron, a Lake Zurich High School alumnus, was discovered dead in her bed after overdosing on heroin. Then, in June 2009, a 22-year-old former student died in the hospital three days after he overdosed on heroin. Only one month later, a 21-year-old former student died in a halfway house of an overdose.

Needle marks, also called "track marks," used to be a tell-tale sign of heroin use. However, with a dramatic increase in the purity of heroin available over the last few years, users no longer need to inject heroin. The drug can be smoked or snorted. One objective of the forum is to inform parents about changes like these. Another objective is to fight the "not my kid" attitude that many parents may have.

Hines commented: "There have been so many parents who believe this would not happen to their kids. Their kids are in sports. Their kids are in every activity, and there's no sign of foul play. The signs aren't the same anymore."

(Source: dailyherald.com)

Ecstasy Carries High Risk of Death Even for Young, Healthy

2010-02-12T09:10:00.000-08:00

Ecstasy-related fatalities seem to include a greater number of otherwise healthy teens than other stimulant-related fatalities, according to a new study by a professor from England's University of Hertfordshire School of Pharmacy and researchers at St. George's University of London's International Centre for Drug Policy. The report covers an 11-year, UK-wide analysis of mortality from stimulant-type drugs.

For the study, researchers reviewed stimulant-related deaths from a government database and from the British Crime Survey 2001-2007. They identified 832 amphetamine and methylamphetamine-related deaths and 605 ecstasy-related deaths. Methylamphetamines include such drugs as speed and crystal meth. In the course of this research, the scientists noted a disturbing trend: Ecstasy-related fatalities were usually identified in victims who were young and healthy.

Professor Fabrizio Schifano, lead author of the paper which will be published online in Neuropsychobiology, commented on the findings: "These data seem to support the hypothesis that young individuals seem to suffer extreme consequences after excessive intake of ecstasy. This is an issue of public health concern which deserves further studies. Ecstasy and amphetamines are very similar -- they are part of the same pharmacological group. But ecstasy does seem to show an intrinsic toxicity that is higher than that of amphetamines."

(Sources: sciencedaily.com; reuters.com)

Teens Who Drink with Parents Still at Risk for Alcohol Problems, Study Says

2010-02-10T08:57:00.000-08:00

Parents who allow their teens to drink with them as a way to teach responsible drinking behavior may be doing more harm than good, according to a new study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

The study, which included 428 Dutch families with two children, found that the more teenagers were allowed to drink at home, the more they drank outside of the home. In addition, teens who drank either with their parents or on their own were at higher risk for developing alcohol-related problems. These problems included difficulty with school work, truancy and fighting.

The findings call into question the practice of allowing teens to drink at home with their parents as a way to teach responsible drinking behaviors. This practice is fairly common in the Netherlands, where the study was conducted. Researchers say, however, that the practice is not supported by scientific evidence.

Dr. Haske van der Vorst, lead researcher on the study, commented: "The idea is generally based on common sense. For example, the thinking is that if parents show good behaviour -- here, modest drinking -- then the child will copy it. Another assumption is that parents can control their child's drinking by drinking with the child.

"If parents want to reduce the risk that their child will become a heavy drinker or problem drinker in adolescence they should try to postpone the age at which their child starts drinking."

(Source: sciencedaily.com)

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 )